General elections were held in Ecuador on 9 February 2025 for the presidency, the National Assembly, the 21 provincial assemblies, and Ecuador's representatives to the Andean Parliament. Voter turnout was approximately 82% and 83%, in the first and second rounds respectively.
In the presidential election, no candidate secured an outright majority in the first round, a run-off was conducted on 13 April 2025. Incumbent President Daniel Noboa was re-elected for a full term, defeating Luisa González of the Citizen Revolution Movement in the second round. This face-off was a re-match of the 2023 election.
In the National Assembly elections, the left leaning block formed by González's Citizen Revolution Movement and the RETO Movement (led by former President Rafael Correa), secured a narrow plurality in the National Assembly with 67 seats, followed closely by Noboa's National Democratic Action party with 66 seats.
In the first round, Noboa received 44.17% of the vote, slightly ahead of González, who received 44%. On 12 April 2025, a state of emergency was declared leading up to the second round. In the second round, Noboa received 55.63% of the vote, defeating González by 11.25 percentage points. The result exceeded expectations, with Noboa's campaign notable for its focus on young voters. González demanded a recount, claiming the results had discrepancies with pre-election polls and exit polls and were fraudulent. Several media outlets said that González's claims of fraud lacked evidence. International observers, including the European Union and the Organization of American States, determined the elections were free and fair, rejecting claims of fraud.
Background The 2025 election was held after an early election in 2023 after former President Guillermo Lasso invoked the 'muerte cruzada', just days before a congressional impeachment vote. That constitutional mechanism dissolved the National Assembly and triggered a snap election. In that election, Daniel Noboa was elected to complete Lasso's unfinished term, which runs until May 2025.
The 2025 election saw Ecuador returning to its regular electoral schedule to determine the president and vice president for a full four-year term, alongside members of the National Assembly.
Electoral system The president is elected using a modified two-round system, with a candidate required to get over 50% of the vote, or get over 40% of the vote and be 10 points ahead of their nearest rival, to be elected in the first round. The president is limited to two consecutive four-year terms. However, Noboa is serving the remaining term of Guillermo Lasso, whose invoking of muerte cruzada called for the 2023 snap general elections and his early conclusion of his presidency.
Members of the National Assembly are elected by three methods. Fifteen are elected by closed list proportional representation in a nationwide constituency. Six are elected by overseas voters (two each from Canada/United States, Latin America and Asia/Europe/Oceania). The remaining 116 members are elected from multi-member constituencies by closed list proportional representation, with all seats allocated using the Webster method. Members of the National Assembly are limited to two four-year terms, regardless if they are consecutive or not. There are gender quotas for the party lists, meaning there is alternation between men and women. There are no quotas for minority representation.
Presidential candidates Advanced to run-off NameBornExperienceHome provinceRunning mate CampaignRefLuisa González(age )Quito, PichinchaPresident of the Citizen Revolution Movement(2023–2026)Member of the National Assembly(2021–2023)Secretary of Public Administration(2017)2023 presidential candidate ManabíDiego Borja Citizen RevolutionDaniel Noboa(age )Miami, Florida, U.S.48th President of Ecuador(2023–present)Member of the National Assembly(2021–2023) Santa ElenaMaría José Pinto ADN
Eliminated in first round The following candidates have officially submitted their candidacy through the CNE and were eliminated in the first round of voting: NameBornExperienceHome provinceCampaignRefJimmy Jairala(age )Guayaquil, GuayasLeader of the Democratic Center(2012–present)Prefect of Guayas Province(2009–2018)Member of the National Congress(2007) Guayas MCD nominationJorge Escala(age )Ventanas, Los RíosMember of the National Assembly(2009–2013) Los Ríos Popular UnityAndrea González Náder(age )Guayaquil, GuayasEnvironmental activist2023 vice presidential candidate Guayas PSPHenry Kronfle(age )Guayaquil, GuayasPresident of the National Assembly(2023–present)Member of the National Assembly(2017–present) Pichincha PSC nominationCarlos Rabascall(age )Guayaquil, GuayasBusinessman2021 vice presidential candidate Guayas ID nominationLeonidas Iza(age )Latacunga, CotopaxiPresident of CONAIE(2021–present) Cotopaxi Pachakutik nomination(age )Cuenca, AzuayPresident of the (2021–2024) Azuay Democracy Yes(age )Guayaquil, GuayasGovernor of Guayas (2023) Guayas CREOHenry Cucalón(age )Guayaquil, GuayasMinister of the Government(2023)Member of the National Assembly(2013–2021) Guayas MC25 nomination
Minor candidates The following pre-candidates were selected in the primaries of the national parties and were eligible for inscription but were not notable enough due to lack of coverage or not being present in a national opinion poll:
Víctor Araus (People, Equality and Democracy), former General of the National Police of Ecuador Juan Iván Cueva (AMIGO), businessman Pedro Granja (PSE), criminal lawyer Eduardo Sánchez (RETO), businessman Luis Tillería (Avanza), businessman, council member of the City of London Corporation Enrique Gómez (SUMA Party), psychologist
Withdrawn NameBornExperienceHome provinceCampaignRefJosé Serrano(age )Cuenca, AzuayPresident of the National Assembly(2017–2018)Member of the National Assembly(2017–2021)Minister of the Interior(2011–2016) Pichincha MCD nominationPaola Pabón(age )Ibarra, ImbaburaPrefect of Pichincha Province(2019–present)Member of the National Assembly(2009–2015) Pichincha RC nomination
Declined The following notable individuals were the subject of speculation about their possible candidacy but publicly denied interest in running or were rejected as pre-candidates and declined to pursue their candidacies.
Bolívar Armijos Velasco, President of the National Council of Rural Parochial Governments of Ecuador (2014–2019) and 2023 presidential candidate Pedro Freile, Director of the Inter-American Development Bank Ecuadorian Division (2004–2005), 2021 presidential candidate (endorsed Topić) Lucio Gutiérrez, member of the National Assembly (2023–present) and 43rd President of Ecuador (2003–2005) (endorsed González Náder) Guillermo Lasso (CREO), 47th President of Ecuador (2021–2023) (endorsed Tabacchi) Claudia Ormaza Loor (MCD), engineer Edwin Ortega (Gente Buena), retired Captain of the Ecuadorian Army (did not find support from any national party) Dallyana Passailaigue, member of the National Assembly (2017–present) (running for vice president; endorsed Kronfle) Cristina Reyes, President of the Andean Parliament (2023–present), Member of the National Assembly (2013–2021), Municipal Councillor of Guayaquil (2009–2012) (running for vice president; endorsed Cueva) Diana Salazar Méndez, Attorney General of Ecuador (2019–present)
Opinion polls Presidential election
First round
Second round
Conduct
On election day, the government deployed armored vehicles and soldiers carrying machine guns to secure polling booths while the country's land borders were closed.
Noboa's behavior during the official campaign period was criticized by the suspended Vice President and the opposition. He faced accusations of misusing public funds, engaging in lawfare against his detractors and exploiting public resources. There had been criticism regarding his social media advertising, which allegedly utilized bots and fake accounts.
A legal dispute has been ongoing since Noboa's refusal to relinquish his office during the official electoral period, which was intended for his vice president, Verónica Abad Rojas according to campaign law. Noboa told Congress stating, "Today, I will be President of Ecuador until 5 p.m. and will resume office at 11:59 p.m." while he attended political rallies. On other occasions, he had his secretary inform Congress that she was temporarily assuming the presidency. Abad had previously been suspended in November 2024 by the labor ministry for 150 days. Her suspension was lifted by a judge in December 2024, ordering the labor ministry to give her an apology for the suspension. On 30 March 2025, Noboa caused controversy for ignoring the Constitutional Court and appointing Cynthia Gellibert by decree as Vice President, suspending Abad once again, who was disenfranchised for two years by the TCE in a 3–2 decision issued in a gender-based political violence counterclaim filed by Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld following Abad's initial lawsuit against Noboa and others for alleged harassment. Analysts said Noboa was focused on institutional stability and a leadership aligned with his vision of government, which reinforced his political strategy in the wake of this election.
Noboa declared a state of emergency in seven of Ecuador's provinces leading up to the runoff election. According to European Union observers, the candidates were able to campaign without restrictions, and the freedoms of assembly and movement were guaranteed, despite the State of Exception in force. Freedoms of expression and the press were also respected. The observers noted, however, President Noboa's failure to apply to the Assembly for a 'licence' at the start of the campaign contributed to blurring the boundaries between the role of candidate and the role of president and that the fraud narrative by González despite the election being transparent was problematic.
Results Preliminary results in the first round showed no candidate in the presidential election had won an outright majority. Daniel Noboa received 44.17% of the vote, followed by Luisa González at 43.97%. Turnout was estimated at around 82%. On 24 February 2025, the Plenary of the CNE approved the numerical results of the 2025 general elections. After approval, three days were given for political organizations to file appeals with the CNE or the TCE if they considered it necessary. The final results for the presidential candidates were released on 12 March 2025. Luisa González achieved 44% (4,510,860 votes) and Daniel Noboa 44.17% (4,527,606 votes). The difference between them was 16,746 votes. During the election, Noboa's mother, Anabella Azín was elected to the National Assembly to represent the national constituency.
In the second round, Noboa received 55.63% of the vote, defeating González by 11.25 percentage points. The result exceeded expectations based on pre-election polling, with Noboa's campaign notable for its focus on young voters. Noboa was congratulated by various international leaders. González refused to concede and has requested a recount, alleging fraud without providing evidence. International observers, including the European Union and the Organization of American States, confirmed the elections were free and fair. Noboa held a victory rally in Olón, calling it a "historic victory," saying: "A victory by more than 10 points, a victory by over a million votes, leaving no doubt about who the winner is." González refused to concede, claiming election fraud without evidence.