Ecuador’s National Electoral Council (CNE) has officially declared incumbent President Daniel Noboa the winner of the second round of the presidential election, solidifying his mandate amid ongoing political tension.
CNE head Diana Atamaint confirmed the results during a press conference, stating that the vote count—after processing 90% of the protocols—shows “an irreversible trend” in favor of Noboa and his running mate Maria Jose Pinto, from the National Democratic Action party. Atamaint emphasized that the outcome is “an accurate reflection of the will of the people.”
According to the latest data from the CNE, with 92.64% of the votes counted, Noboa secured 55.88% of the vote, compared to 44.12% for his opponent, Luisa Gonzalez—a difference of over 1.1 million votes.
Despite the CNE’s declaration, Gonzalez has refused to concede, alleging irregularities and demanding a recount. A former official in the administration of ex-President Rafael Correa (2007–2017), Gonzalez has criticized Noboa’s governance as authoritarian and accused him of not fulfilling his campaign promises.
Noboa, who originally came to power in a snap election in October 2023, faces a country gripped by a worsening security crisis. In January 2024, he declared an internal armed conflict and launched a crackdown on organized crime, including plans to build mega-prisons for high-risk offenders.
As he prepares for his official inauguration on May 24, Noboa has pledged to continue these hardline security measures. Meanwhile, Gonzalez has advocated for addressing the root causes of crime—such as poverty and inequality—while promoting renewable energy, reestablishing state control over hydroelectric power, and pushing for economic diversification.