Ecuador holds regular, competitive elections, but the influence of organized crime and related violence have increased significantly in recent years, affecting the functioning of state institutions and the security of ordinary citizens. Due process violations, attacks on journalists, human rights abuses, and official corruption are ongoing challenges, and the new government of President Daniel Noboa Azín has engaged in practices that further threaten civil liberties.

• In April, incumbent president Daniel Noboa Azín won the year’s presidential election, taking 56 percent of the second-round vote against Luisa González, the candidate of the Citizen Revolution Movement (RC), who received 44 percent. An Organization of American States (OAS) election observation mission praised the election as credible and peaceful but expressed concern about attempts by Noboa to influence the National Electoral Council (CNE), as well as about the improper use of public resources for campaigning. A European Union (EU) monitoring mission expressed similar concerns.
• Ecuador held elections for the 151 members of the National Assembly in February, concurrently with the first round of the presidential election. Former President Rafael Correa’s Citizen Revolution Movement–Renewal Movement (RC–RETO) won 67 seats, and Noboa’s National Democratic Action (ADN) won 66. The remaining 18 seats were distributed among a number of local parties and movements.
• In September and October, protests erupted in several cities following Noboa’s move to cancel diesel fuel subsidies. The demonstrations were mostly peaceful, though some violent acts by demonstrators took place. National and international civil society organizations reported that abuses were committed by police and military forces deployed to contain the protests. Ecuador’s Alliance of Human Rights Organizations said 473 people were injured and 206 were detained; 3 were reportedly killed.
• In August, the Law for the Control of Irregular Capital Flows (the “Foundations Law”) came into effect. Authorities said its purpose was to prevent nonprofit organizations from being used for illicit activities such as money laundering or tax evasion. However, civil society and rights groups expressed concern that it could be used to interfere with the operations of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that criticized the government.
• By late November, authorities had recorded 8,393 killings—an average of 25 murders per day. The deteriorating security situation prompted states of emergency and de facto restrictions across the country, particularly in parts Ecuador’s coastal and Amazon regions where the presence of the state and law enforcement agencies was limited or has been violently challenged. The state of emergency and associated police crackdowns prompted concerns about damage to due process protections and the rule of law.

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For additional background information, see last year’s full report.