As voters head to the polls on Sunday, violence, unemployment and the country’s ongoing energy crisis will be top of mind.
Daniel Noboa, Ecuador’s center-right president, is facing re-election after 15 months in office.
His predecessor, Guillermo Lasso, called for early elections in 2023 amid impeachment proceedings over embezzlement accusations.
Mr. Noboa, 37, a Harvard Kennedy School graduate who comes from one of Ecuador’s wealthiest families, rose unexpectedly in the polls to win election and serve out the remainder of Mr. Lasso’s term.
At stake is the direction the troubled nation of nearly 18 million will take as it grapples with drug-fueled violence and high unemployment, issues that have sent tens of thousands of Ecuadoreans to the United States.
Here’s what you need to know:
Why is this election important?
Five years ago, Mr. Noboa was a political unknown. He was elected to the country’s legislature in 2021 and served one term.
During the 2023 elections to replace Mr. Lasso, he rose from the bottom of the polls in the first round of voting to score a second-place victory after a strong debate performance. He then beat a leftist establishment candidate, Luisa González, in the second round.