Violent crime has soared since then-President Rafael Correa left office in 2017, with assassinations, kidnappings and ransom demands reaching unprecedented levels, according to AFP. Noboa has deployed troops across Ecuador to combat a wave of violent crime, but critics say the president has gone too far by suspending civil liberties in some provinces and cracking down on civil society groups.? The election was also seen as key to Ecuador's future political stability after weeks of violent protests against Noboa's 2018 decree giving him the power to rule by fiat if he deemed it necessary. I don't think we'll see a return to strongman-style populism, but it is quite likely there will be another round in April, said John Cotler, an analyst with Ecuador's Universidad San Francisco de Quito.? Gonzalez, who served as Correa's social development minister, has promised to create jobs and reduce poverty if elected. Noboa won office in 2017 after defeating leftist Correa, but the president has been embroiled in controversy since his election, particularly over his hardline security response and perceived attempts to curb civil liberties.? He is also unpopular for raising sales tax on basic goods and cutting state subsidies on fuel. Despite being the clear favorite entering Sunday's vote, Noboa has been forced into a run-off only once before -- in 2013, when he lost by less than one percent of the votes.

Violent crime has soared since then-President Rafael Correa left office in 2017, with assassinations, kidnappings and ransom demands reaching unprecedented levels, according to AFP. Noboa has deployed troops across Ecuador to combat a wave of violent crime, but critics say the president has gone too far by suspending civil liberties in some provinces and cracking down on civil society groups.? The election was also seen as key to Ecuador's future political stability after weeks of violent protests against Noboa's 2018 decree giving him the power to rule by fiat if he deemed it necessary. I don't think we'll see a return to strongman-style populism, but it is quite likely there will be another round in April, said John Cotler, an analyst with Ecuador's Universidad San Francisco de Quito.? Gonzalez, who served as Correa's social development minister, has promised to create jobs and reduce poverty if elected. Noboa won office in 2017 after defeating leftist Correa, but the president has been embroiled in controversy since his election, particularly over his hardline security response and perceived attempts to curb civil liberties.? He is also unpopular for raising sales tax on basic goods and cutting state subsidies on fuel. Despite being the clear favorite entering Sunday's vote, Noboa has been forced into a run-off only once before -- in 2013, when he lost by less than one percent of the votes.