President Daniel Noboa Questions Ecuador’s Election Results Amid Accusations of Irregularities

President Daniel Noboa has questioned the validity of Ecuador’s election results, citing irregularities, but independent observers dispute his claims. The recent voting left Noboa and Luisa Gonzalez nearly tied, leading to a run-off in April. Despite accusations of fraud, monitoring organizations found no substantial evidence to support these allegations, intensifying the rivalry as both candidates gear up for the second round.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has expressed skepticism regarding the results of the recent presidential election, alleging that the first round revealed significant “irregularities.” Speaking on Radio Centro, Noboa noted that discrepancies remain evident in certain provinces, yet he provided no evidence to support these claims. His comments have sparked a strong rebuttal from independent election observers, who affirm that their assessments confirm the official voting results with no sightings of widespread irregularities. The Organization of American States (OAS) and a European Union monitoring group both stated they found no substantiated evidence of fraud during the election process.

The first round of voting concluded with Noboa and his left-leaning opponent, Luisa Gonzalez, nearly tied, each garnering approximately 44 percent of the votes, leading to a run-off election scheduled for April. Both candidates expressed concerns over the election’s integrity, which prompted Gabriel Mato from the European Parliament to lament the misinformation surrounding the election. He emphasized that there is no factual foundation supporting claims of electoral fraud.

Noboa and Gonzalez have a contentious history; they faced off in the 2023 election following the dissolution of the National Assembly under then-President Guillermo Lasso’s extraordinary constitutional measure. Noboa, entering the race as an underdog from a newly formed center-right coalition, ultimately triumphed over Gonzalez by a narrow margin. The ongoing political rivalry has intensified as they prepare for the 2025 general election.

In a recent interview, Noboa accused members of Gonzalez’s party, the Citizen Revolution, of releasing inmates to sway the election results while commending voters for participating despite perceived threats against their safety. Despite his assertions, he did not provide any supporting evidence for his allegations. Gonzalez responded vigorously, defending her supporters against Noboa’s criminality insinuations and criticizing his failure to address the escalating crime rates in Ecuador.

The imminent second-round election is set to occur on April 13, and Noboa’s campaign strategies have already come under scrutiny for possible irregularities, including his constitutional authority during his re-election efforts. Even former President Rafael Correa weighed in, criticizing Noboa and his affiliates as sore losers, further highlighting the politically charged atmosphere as both candidates gear up for the upcoming election.

In summary, President Daniel Noboa has raised concerns about the legitimacy of the first-round election results amid accusations of irregularities. Independent monitoring groups have refuted these claims, asserting the accuracy of the vote tally. As Noboa and Gonzalez prepare for the pivotal run-off election in April, their longstanding rivalry continues to shape the political landscape of Ecuador.

Original Source: www.aljazeera.com