Voting stations in Ecuador. Photo: AP, Dolores Ochoa
The government of Nicaragua criticized the manner in which the presidential elections were carried out in Ecuador. According to the Ecuadorian electoral authorities, the incumbent, Daniel Noboa, received a greater amount of votes and will remain in power until 2029.
“The Ecuadorian people triumphed in the presidential elections, but their votes were abducted and assaulted,” reads the statement issued by the Nicaraguan administration. “[This] not only broke all the rules and norms of democratic institutions but, by imposing itself with deceit and lies, provides continuity to the insecurity, anxiety, and the deprivation of all political, social, and economic rights.”
The Nicaraguan statement also expressed the belief that the Ecuadorian people will be able to overcome this stage: “Ecuador is a fighter, combative, heroic, from the strength of its history, we are sure will transcend all the limits… that atrocity, ignorance, and arrogance intend to impose, from an increasingly clear corruption that also reflects the racist and classist hatred of those who practice it.”
Likewise, Managua reiterated its condemnation of any act that affects the Ecuadorian people or the Latin American region: “We support our brothers who face, with gallantry, the brutality… of those who insist on ignoring the realities and impose falsifications, adulterations, slander, and misery.”
On April 13, Ecuador held its general elections under a state of emergency decreed by President Noboa just hours before Election Day. According to the National Electoral Council (CNE), the current president obtained more than 50% of the votes, allowing the right-wing billionaire and US ally to defeat his opponent, leftist candidate Luisa Gonzalez. Some governments, such as that of Colombia, have refused to accept the results, while nations such as Mexico have insisted on waiting for an official recount of the votes.
