Ecuador’s Noboa begins second term vowing crackdown on crime and economic revival

Noboa, son of banana magnate Álvaro Noboa, first took office in November 2023 at age 35 with minimal political background. His initial term came after President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the legislature to avoid impeachment. Noboa was elected to finish Lasso’s term and then won reelection on April 13 in a runoff against González.

Noboa’s administration has been defined by a tough stance on criminal violence, which has surged in the South American nation in recent years. He has framed public safety as a cornerstone of national progress and legitimacy.

Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa walks out of the National Assembly with his wife, Lavinia Valbonesi, after his swearing-in ceremony. (AP Photo)

Ceremony attended by international leaders

The ceremony drew dignitaries included US Health Secretary Robert Kennedy, Colombian President Gustavo Petro, and Peru’s President Dina Boluarte. However, Noboa’s opponent, leftist candidate Luisa González, and her Citizen Revolution party—led by ex-president Rafael Correa—boycotted the event.

González has repeatedly alleged electoral fraud, though those claims were dismissed by both Ecuador’s national electoral authority and international observers.

Violence still rampant, jobs scarce

Despite Noboa’s rhetoric on security, Ecuador remains one of Latin America’s most violent countries, recording approximately 8,000 violent deaths by the end of 2024, as per AP. Analysts argue that the president must broaden his agenda beyond crime-fighting to rebuild Ecuador’s social fabric through investment in health, education, and especially employment.

By late 2024, only 33% of Ecuadorians held full-time jobs, with many scraping by in the informal sector.

(With inputs from AP)