Transcript

Welcome back to the "Bilingual News in Spanish" Podcast. In today's episode, we unravel the story of the recent presidential elections in Ecuador. A young businessman, harnessing the legacy of his family's empire, has risen to power amidst a country grappling with escalating violence and economic instability. This is the story of Daniel Noboa.

Daniel Noboa, heredero de un imperio de bananas de 35 años, ganó la elección presidencial de Ecuador el domingo. En estas elecciones había mucho en juego.

The right-of-centre Noboa, defeated Luisa González, a left-wing candidate personally chosen by the former president Rafael Correa. Mister Correa, who himself was impeached, promised a return to prosperity from Correa's leadership period.

Los resultados muestran el deseo de cambio en un país con más de 17 millones de habitantes que ha sufrido un aumento en la violencia de las pandillas. Esto ha hecho que muchos ecuatorianos migren.

As with much of Latin America, Ecuador's economy has been hit severely by the pandemic. Many people are struggling to make enough money to provide for their families. According to government data, only 34 percent of Ecuadorians have suitable employment.

El domingo por la tarde, cuando el 93 por ciento de los votos fueron contados, Noboa tenía el 52 por ciento y González, el 47 por ciento.

González conceded her defeat and expressed her gratitude to her followers and to the Ecuadorians who didn't vote for her in a graceful speech.

Noboa, en su primer discurso como presidente electo, dio las gracias a los votantes, asegurando que empezaría a trabajar para sanar un país golpeado por la violencia, la corrupción y el odio.

As the newly elected President, Noboa has a huge task ahead of him. Ecuador has seen a significant increase in crime related to international criminal groups and local gangs. This has transformed the country into a major player in global drug trafficking.

Cuando Noboa asuma su cargo, tendrá que enfrentarse a estos grupos internacionales y pandillas que están compitiendo por el lucrativo mercado de las drogas.

Noboa is seen as an outsider with little experience in government. Assembling a coherent and stable government coalition may prove a challenging task for him.

Noboa ha prometido detener la violencia, y fortalecer la policía y el ejército. También sugiere usar tecnología, como drones y sistemas de rastreo satelital, para luchar contra el narcotráfico.

Despite his lack of experience, Noboa brings fresh ideas and perspective to the political arena. This, paralleled by his self-claimed title of the "jobs president", intrigued the Ecuadorian people.

Noboa se ha descrito como el "presidente del empleo", prometiendo atraer inversiones y comercio internacional y reducir los impuestos. Aunque proviene de una rica familia, Noboa ha tratado de mostrarse como una figura independiente.

Despite his victory, only time will reveal Noboa's impact on Ecuador. As he faces the enormous responsibility of guiding the beleaguered country through its concurrent crises, the world will be watching. As always, thank you for listening to the "Bilingual News in Spanish" podcast. You can find the full transcript of our episodes at bilingualnews.net.