Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has won a runoff in the country’s presidential election. This means he will now serve a full four-year term after winning a snap presidential election in 2023.
Noboa – who is 37 – won the election with 55.7% of the vote.
His left-wing challenger, Luisa Gonzalez, claimed that there was fraud, and at the time of writing had refused to concede.
In the first round of the election – held in February – there had been a virtual dead heat between Noboa and Gonzalez, with Noboa winning 44.2% of the vote against Gonzalez’s 44.0%.
Noboa’s presidency has thus far been characterised by a tough military crackdown against drug gangs, which have been operating in the country. Security had been one of the main concerns of Ecuadorians before the election, along with unemployment.
Noboa’s victory means he has a mandate to continue what he has called a “war” on criminal drug gangs.
[Image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/presidenciaecuador/53715253382]