The left-wing party in Ecuador has lost the presidential election and needs to reflect on itself.
The election result of October 15, 2023 is similar to that of April 11, 2021: The son of an entrepreneur, Daniel Noboa, wins the presidency with a four percent lead over the left candidate Luisa González. In 2021, the gap between the neoliberal banker Guillermo Lasso and his rival Andrès Arauz was just under five. All observers agree that Lasso’s reign was a disaster. He has simply let the country deteriorate, which forced early elections. Lasso has effectively opened the door to the drug trade, thereby allowing violence and corruption to flourish. Ungovernability was imminent. Such conditions can always be politically and economically exploited. Drug trafficking is a lucrative business. Most cocaine is shipped to Europe in banana crates. The future president will be judged on how he handles this situation.
As the heir of a globally successful banana entrepreneur, Noboa has spent most of his professional life in his father’s management. He is familiar with the business world and could make a difference with good intentions, not only by curbing drug trafficking but also by improving the traditionally precarious working conditions on banana plantations.
Daniel Noboa has yet to prove himself.
Vorgänger Lasso war selbst mithilfe des FBI nicht in der Lage (oder willens), den Mord an dem Präsidentschaftskandidaten Fernando Villavicencio aufzuklären. Stattdessen wurden sieben der mutmaßlichen Täter in Staatsgewahrsam ermordet. Vor der Wahl tauchte ein unbekannter Zeuge auf, dessen Aussage öffentlich wurde, Hintermänner „aus der Regierung Correa“ seien im Spiel gewesen. Rafael Correa regierte Ecuador von 2007 bis 2017, lebt heute wegen Korruptionsvorwürfen im belgischen Exil und ist der politische Mentor von Luisa González, die das dubiose Statement Stimmen gekostet haben dürfte.
Noboa will now have to prove that he truly aims for a different political culture, as he hinted during the campaign, and is not just a rejuvenated version of Lasso 2.0. Only then will he have a chance to assert himself in the next regular elections in 18 months. Until then, the Left also has time to critically reflect on serious alliance politics. Does it want to present an alternative agenda for Ecuador with or without Rafael Correa?