Daniel Noboa, an inexperienced politician and an heir to a fortune built on the banana trade, won Ecuador’s presidential run-off election held amid unprecedented violence that even claimed the life of a candidate.
Noboa — the youngest person to lead the country — is the son of banana tycoon and politician Alvaro Noboa, who made five unsuccessful runs for the presidency. Ten hours of voting on Sunday unfolded amid a heavy police presence, but Interior Minister Juan Zapata said there had been no violent incidents."It is a critical election," Freddy Escobar, a popular 49-year-old singer, told AFP in a voting line, citing crime as his main worry."I am voting in fear, not knowing what will happen."