In Ecuador, President Daniel Noboa's victory in upcoming elections would portend a continuation of business-friendly policies that slowly improve economic conditions, while a victory by the left-wing opposition candidate would see increased social spending that slightly improves poverty levels but threatens the country's IMF deal. Ecuador will hold general elections on Feb. 9 to appoint a president and all seats in the country's National Assembly. The vote will see President Noboa of the center-right National Democratic Action party run for a full four-year term after serving a compressed 18-month term starting in November 2023. Based on polling, the presidential election is highly likely to go to a run-off vote scheduled for April 13. Polling indicates that Noboa will likely again face off against opposition candidate Luisa Gonzalez of the left-wing Citizen Revolution Movement party (a protege of former President Rafael Correa), who Noboa defeated in the second round of the...
