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AQ Podcast | Daniel Noboa’s Ecuador: Crime, Protests and a Contested Vote

By AQ Online

Political risk analyst Sebastián Hurtado on President Daniel Noboa's security strategy, the Bukele comparison, and the road ahead of Ecuador's November 29 local elections.

Ecuador is facing one of the most consequential moments in its recent history. President Daniel Noboa won reelection in April 2025 on a promise to restore public security, but despite an increasingly aggressive campaign against organized crime and closer ties with the United States, the country continues to struggle with entrenched criminal networks. Homicides are down about 8% this year after a record-setting 2025, and Noboa is increasingly compared to El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele. Now, local elections on November 29 will test Noboa’s political strength, with the main opposition party...

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