Debate in Ecuador: Daniel Noboa and Luisa Gonzalez provide a slow, flat face to a country mired in violence | international

The last debate before Ecuador’s presidential elections, on October 15, was insignificant. Almost without any discussion, proposals were put forward that were impossible to achieve within a year and a half of the term, at which time whoever wins the elections will take office in two weeks. Daniel Noboa and Luisa Gonzalez answered in two hours four thematic themes: economic, security, social and political. It was a slow discussion.

The last debate before Ecuador’s presidential elections, on October 15, was insignificant. Almost without any discussion, proposals were put forward that were impossible to achieve within a year and a half of the term, at which time whoever wins the elections will take office in two weeks. Daniel Noboa and Luisa Gonzalez answered in two hours four thematic themes: economic, security, social and political. It was a slow debate without clear ideas between the political heirs of Rafael Correa and Alvaro Noboa – the candidate’s father – who faced each other seventeen years ago in a similar scenario that marked the 2006 elections in favor of the Correas.

It’s hard to imagine this Sunday that the debate will decide the race. The strict formula proposed by the discussion committee of the Electoral Council did not allow for discussion, and the candidates did not dare to ask uncomfortable questions. Time passed between the list of problems and possible solutions without the depth or passion necessary to attract this important group of hesitant people, which exceeds 37%, according to the Sedatos poll. The candidate of the ADN Noboa coalition leads in voting intention by 44% compared to the candidate of the Citizen’s Revolution by 32%, according to the opinion poll.

The space was there for Gonzalez to abandon his leader and mentor Rafael Correa for the first time. He said about the person he promised to name as his main advisor if he wins the presidency: “I want to confirm that the candidate for the presidency of the republic is Anna Luisa Gonzalez and not Rafael Correa.” Noboa, in searching for his character, also did not want to refer to his father, who was a candidate for Carondelet five times and is a politician known throughout the country in the face of the unknown generated by his son, who reached the second round by surprise on August 20.

The first critical moment was caused by Noboa when he asked his opponent how long it would take to abolish the dollar in Ecuador, “following the recommendations of the Puebla Group, and its leader, Rafael Correa?” This is one of the most sensitive issues in the economy for Ecuadorians. Noboa was trying to attack statements made by Citizen Revolution vice presidential candidate Andres Arauz, who talked about incorporating “Equality,” an electronic currency for payments and transactions. Gonzalez smiled and replied: “In the Puebla Group there was talk about a global system for commercial payments, and I will pump resources into the economy, strengthen national industry to promote dollarization.”

And when it came time to talk about security, in a country with the highest crime rates in Latin America and the greatest concern among citizens, the candidates announced that they had already given names to their projects. The so-called Phoenix Plan is Noboa’s plan, which insisted on his proposal to establish barge prisons to isolate detainees, and the Resurger Plan is Gonzalez’s plan, whose proposal focuses on the militarization of prisons.

“The first thing is to leave the government that allowed organized crime to infiltrate the country,” attacked Gonzalez, who saw the opportunity to attack the businessman. “Most of the violence comes from organized crime. The mafia even appoints ministers who facilitate drug exports, and who are accountable to the state if the former agriculture minister, Bernardo Manzano, is the director of the Noboa group.”

Manzano mentioned in some audio recordings the issue of influence peddling in the current government. “Yes, he was director of Corporación Noboa for a long time, and similarly there were ministers like Pepe Serrano – who held several positions in Rafael Correa’s government – ​​who were involved in drug trafficking,” Noboa replied.

In a campaign marked by violence, candidates rarely organize street events or rallies, due to the need to surround themselves with strong security measures. On this last occasion to speak directly to Ecuadorians, the candidates extended their invitations to continue the debate on TikTok.

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