President Daniel Noboa has questioned the legitimacy of the recent election results, citing alleged irregularities. However, independent observers from the OAS and European Union found no evidence of wide-scale fraud. The race remains contentious, with a run-off election between Noboa and his left-wing opponent Luisa Gonzalez scheduled for April 2025.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has raised concerns regarding the results of the recent presidential election, citing alleged “irregularities” in the first round of voting. In an interview with Radio Centro, he expressed skepticism about the voting outcomes, claiming discrepancies in certain provinces, although he did not provide evidence to support his assertions. Noboa emphasized that the counting process was still ongoing and that concerns persisted about the integrity of the results.
Independent observers from the Organization of American States (OAS) reported no significant irregularities that would affect the election’s outcome, confirming that their data matched the official results, which fell within an acceptable margin of error. Additionally, an independent election monitoring group established by the European Union echoed these sentiments, stating, “We do not have a single objective element that there was any type of fraud.” Gabriel Mato, a European Parliament member, highlighted the lack of objective evidence for the claims of electoral fraud.
The first round of voting saw a tight race between Noboa and his left-wing opponent, Luisa Gonzalez, with both candidates garnering approximately 44 percent of the votes. This outcome necessitated a run-off election, scheduled for April 2025. Mato criticized the narrative surrounding fraud, stating that there was no objective evidence to support it.
Noboa and Gonzalez have a contentious history, having previously faced off in the 2023 election to replace former President Guillermo Lasso after his early departure from office following the invocation of the “muerte cruzada.” Noboa, representing a newly formed center-right coalition, entered the election as an underdog but ultimately won with a decisive 52 percent of the vote against Gonzalez’s 48 percent.
During the interview, President Noboa accused the members of Gonzalez’s Citizen Revolution party of releasing prisoners to sway election results. He praised Ecuadorian voters for their resilience against perceived threats. Despite asserting he had evidence for his allegations, Noboa failed to substantiate his claims during the interview, prompting backlash from Gonzalez, who refuted the implication that her voters were tied to criminality.
Gonzalez highlighted Noboa’s failure to address rising crime rates in Ecuador and pointed out the unconstitutionality of Noboa’s re-election campaign while delegating authority to an interim vice president. Former President Rafael Correa also criticized Noboa’s attitude, using social media to express disdain for what he termed bad sportsmanship. As they prepare for the April 13 run-off, tensions between Noboa and Gonzalez continue to escalate.
In summary, President Noboa has expressed skepticism regarding the presidential election results, citing alleged irregularities without providing evidence. Independent observers have confirmed the integrity of the results, revealing a close race leading to a run-off election between Noboa and Gonzalez. The election campaign has further fueled partisan tensions, with accusations from both sides reflecting deep-seated political rivalries in Ecuador.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
