The Second Presidential Round was held in Ecuador on 13 April. “Ecuadorians have expressed their will loud and clear. And they have done it freely and where it can best be done: at the polls”, said Gabriel Mato, Head of the European Union Election Observation Mission in Ecuador, during the press conference to present the mission’s Preliminary Declaration, held today in Quito. “Has there been an imbalance in some areas? Without a doubt. Can this imbalance justify casting doubt on the electoral outcome? From my point of view, absolutely not”, he added.

The day of the elections passed in a calm and transparent manner, with a greater presence of representatives of political parties than in the first round, who were able to follow the scrutiny without any restrictions. The CNE website and results application operated smoothly, ensuring the transparency and traceability of the results transmission system.

Election preparations proceeded efficiently and on time. Despite maintaining a high degree of transparency, the CNE was again questioned, due, in part, to the resolution that banned the use of electronic devices during the vote. This decision, limited only to voters at the time of voting, did not affect observers or party delegates.

The EU EOM observed a pluralistic and peaceful run-off campaign. The candidates were able to campaign without restrictions, and the freedoms of assembly and movement were guaranteed, despite the State of Exception in force in some areas of the country. Freedoms of expression and of the press were also respected.

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. Likewise, disinformation, which included the fraud narrative, remained a pending issue. Social media suffers from effective regulation to prevent disinformation and ensure fairness.

Nacho Sánchez Amor, Head of the European Parliament Delegation who joined the mission in the days leading up to Election Day, said: "Despite the insistence on cross narratives of fraud, this Sunday's result reflects the will expressed by Ecuadorians at the polls. In our observation we observe a process that respects the procedures established by the electoral legislation and the resolutions of the CNE, ensuring the transparency, reliability and credibility of the vote and the count. In future electoral contests, it would be advisable for the competent State bodies to make efforts to ensure a better balance in the campaign”.

This preliminary statement is submitted before the end of the electoral process and includes the observations made to date. Critical stages remain, such as the publication of official results and the resolution of challenges. Upon completion of the process, the mission will publish its final report with a full analysis and recommendations for electoral reform.

MOE UE (2025)

About the EU EOM Ecuador 2025

The EU EOM arrived in Ecuador on 28 December 2024, at the invitation of the National Electoral Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to observe the 2025 General Elections. For the Second Presidential Round, the mission deployed 106 observers from 25 EU Member States, Norway and Canada across the country. The EU EOM assesses the electoral process in accordance with international obligations and commitments for democratic elections, as well as Ecuador's laws. On 13 April, the EU EOM observed 411 polling stations in 23 provinces. A delegation from the European Parliament, led by MEP Nacho Sánchez Amor, also joined the mission and supports this statement. The EU EOM is independent in its findings and conclusions, and adheres to the Declaration of Principles for International Electoral Observation.