Luisa Gonzalez to Run for Ecuador’s Presidency in 2025 as RC's Candidate

Luisa Gonzalez, chosen by Revolucion Ciudadana, will run for Ecuador's presidency in 2025. She follows Rafael Correa, her mentor. Ecuador will vote on February 9, after Daniel Noboa's truncated term. Gonzalez pledges change and has economist Diego Borja as her vice-presidential candidate. Security remains an election focus.

Revolucion Ciudadana, the political party of Ecuador's ex-President Rafael Correa, announced on Saturday that former lawmaker Luisa Gonzalez will be its candidate for the 2025 presidential election.

As Ecuador heads to the polls on February 9, ending President Daniel Noboa's truncated term, the election landscape is heating up. Noboa, elected in 2023 for just 18 months following his predecessor's early call to escape impeachment, is confirmed as his party's candidate. A scion of a banana business empire, Noboa will compete again, with legislative elections also on the agenda.

"No one wants four more years of the same," said Gonzalez, 46, during her selection at the RC convention in Guayaquil. Losing to Noboa in 2023 despite promising to revive Correa's multi-million-dollar spending programs, Gonzalez is determined to bring change. Economist and former central bank head Diego Borja will be her vice-presidential running mate.

Since Noboa's win, RC has been his main adversary, criticizing his security policies. The young president has declared several states of emergency to bolster his anti-crime agenda, allowing military patrols in streets and prisons. Government data shows a 19% decrease in violent deaths through July 2024 compared to the previous year. Crime remains a pivotal topic for RC's campaign.

(With inputs from agencies.)