The electoral campaign in Ecuador ahead of the second round of voting continues today without major activities by the candidates Luisa González, of the Citizen’s Revolution, and President Daniel Noboa, who has not requested a leave of absence.

In previous elections, the candidates have started the campaign phase with massive acts, caravans or other events accompanied by their supporters, but this time both were at the debate and on Monday they only gave interviews to local media.

González declared on Teleamazonas that the face-to-face debate was useful for the Ecuadorian people to realise that the promises made in 2023 by the current president had not been fulfilled.

The CR representative stressed that she will strengthen dollarisation and ratified that she will recognise Nicolás Maduro as president of Venezuela, with whom she will talk about the migratory issue of the citizens of that nation.

Noboa, for his part, remains president and in an interview with a local radio station reiterated his proposal for a Constituent Assembly and took the opportunity to criticise his rival.

The president has not said whether or not he will take a leave of absence during the election campaign period that ends on 10 April, a requirement that is mandatory in legislation for officials seeking re-election.

If he does take a leave of absence, it would fall to the vice-president, Verónica Abad, to take over as head of the executive.

However, she will no longer be able to assume the post, as the Electoral Disputes Tribunal (TCE) ratified on Monday the suspension of her political rights for two years following a complaint of gender-based political violence against the chancellor, Gabriela Sommerfeld.

The Minister of Government, José de la Gasca, informed that the situation constitutes a «force majeure» due to the temporary absence of the vice-president and, according to the official, under this «legal figure», the president-candidate will have to designate a person to fill the absence.

In the midst of this situation, the campaign continues this Tuesday and González plans to meet with young people and entrepreneurs in Quito.

More than 13.7 million Ecuadorians are called to the polls on 13 April to decide between the two candidates, who promote two antagonistic projects for the country.