Daniel Roy Gilchrist Noboa Azín (/noʊˈboʊə/noh-BOH-ə; Spanish pronunciation:[daˈnjelnoˈβo.a]; born 30 November 1987) is an Ecuadorian politician and businessman currently serving as the 48th
president of Ecuador since 23 November 2023.[1][2][3] Taking office at the age of 35, he is the second-youngest president in the country's history, after
Juan José Flores,[4] and the youngest to be elected.[5][6][7][8]
Noboa was a member of the
National Assembly of Ecuador from 2021 until 2023 when the National Assembly
was dissolved following the muerte cruzada constitutional mechanism invoked by President
Guillermo Lasso. Before his political career, Noboa served in several positions at Noboa Corporation, an exporting business founded by his father
Álvaro Noboa, a billionaire who unsuccessfully ran for president of Ecuador five times. He has been widely described as an heir to his father's company and fortune.[9]
In May 2023, Noboa announced his candidacy for president in the 2023 snap election, running on the
National Democratic Action ticket. He advanced to the run-off election in October, facing
Luisa González, which many interpreted as an upset given his low polling numbers in the days leading up to the election.[10] Noboa went on to win nearly 52% of the vote in the run-off, defeating González on 15 October 2023.[11]
At the age of 18, Noboa founded his own company, DNA Entertainment Group, with the purpose of organizing events.[17]
His father, Álvaro Noboa, owns Noboa Corporation, a banana exporter.[9] Daniel Noboa is seen as an heir to the company.[9] He has served as shipping director of Noboa Corporation.[17] He was also commercial and logistics director between 2010[23] and June 2018.[17]
Noboa was absent during President Lasso's impeachment trial, however a proxy voted in the affirmative.[29] In March 2023, he was in favor of the muerte cruzada, in the face of the rejection and filing of the Investment Law, presented by the
government of
Guillermo Lasso.[30] On 17 May 2023, Lasso invoked muerte cruzada, dissolving the National Assembly and ending Noboa's tenure as an assemblyman.[31]
His campaign is seen as traditional, drawing on the Grupo Noboa social welfare foundation founded by his parents, as well as his ties as chairman of the Commission on Economic Development.[36]
In two July polls, he was polling at 6.4% and at 3.1%.[37][38] In early August, Noboa was polling at 2.5% and 3.7%.[39] In a poll conducted a week before the election, he was polling at 3.3%.[40]
On 20 August, Noboa gathered 23.47% of the actual votes and advanced to the run-off election set for 15 October, facing
Luisa González.[35] His second-place finish was seen as surprising, with some attributing his rise in popularity to his debate performance.[35][41] Noboa credited the young voter base for his victory.[42][43]
Noboa was inaugurated as president on 23 November 2023, becoming the country's youngest person to assume the office after winning a popular election.[48]President of ColombiaGustavo Petro was the only foreign head of state to attend his inauguration.[49] His inaugural address lasted seven minutes where he criticized the "old paradigms" in the National Assembly.[49] Because Noboa was elected in a snap election, upon his inauguration he only had 18 months to govern and complete the rest of Lasso's term before it will naturally expire before the next scheduled elections in 2025.[47]
Hours after taking office, Noboa pledged reforms to reduce violence and create employment opportunities in the country, even though he had not appointed a
Finance Minister.[45] He initially announced he would appoint economist Sariha Moya as Minister of Finance, but ultimately had her lead the nation's planning secretariat instead.[50] Many of the President's cabinet were sworn in on 23 November 2023 including
Ivonne Núñez who became the Minister of Labor.[51]
Two days into his term, he ordered the Ministry of the Interior to repeal the Drug Consumption Table, which he believed encouraged "micro-trafficking".[52] He simultaneously instructed the Interior and Health Ministries to create programs to reduce the consumption of narcotics and provide treatment for drug abusers.[53] In conflict with his
Vice President,
Veronica Abad, from the very first days of his mandate, he decided to distance her by appointing her "peace collaborator" between
Israel and the Palestinians, a mission she was to carry out from the Ecuadorian embassy in
Tel Aviv. At the same time, he announced the reorganisation of the vice-presidency in order to reduce its powers. Verónica Abad accused him of sending her "to die in the war".[54][55] In an effort to reduce overcrowding, Noboa proposed deporting 1,500 foreign prisoners who are incarcerated in Ecuador on 15 December.[56] He also said he would consider constructing two maximum security prisons, drawing inspiration from
El Salvador.[57] The same day, Noboa announced he would seek to cut $1 billion in government spending, while raising revenue via gold reserves worth around $300 million.[58]
Noboa addressed the UN Security Council On 9 December, highlighting criminal gang activities and overall security as high priorities.[59] On 10 December 2023, Noboa attended the
inauguration of
Argentinian PresidentJavier Milei.[60] On the sidelines of Milei's inauguration, Noboa met with
Ukrainian PresidentVoloydmyr Zelenskyy, who praised him for his stance on Russia's invasion.[61] The two discussed expanding bilateral relations, primarily surrounding security and trade. Zelenskyy also invited Noboa to visit Ukraine.[62]
On 7 January 2024,
Los Choneros leader
José Adolfo Macías Villamar escaped from prison in the city of
Guayaquil, on the day of his scheduled transfer to a maximum-security prison. The events were reported the next day by authorities, with charges being filed against two prison guards.[63][64] Following the escape, Noboa declared a state of emergency, to last for 60 days,[65] giving authorities the power to suspend people's rights and allowing the military to be mobilized inside prisons. Riots ensued in multiple prisons across Ecuador.[66] Two days later,
mass armed attacks occurred throughout the country, including armed groups storming a television broadcasting station mid-air.[67][68] The left-wing opposition supports the government: "Now is the time for national unity. Organized crime has declared war on the state, and the state must prevail. Some analysts criticize President Noboa for providing an exclusively security-based response to crime, without making any announcements on possible reforms of the police and judiciary, reputed to be highly corrupt, or on social policies to combat the root causes of violence.[69]
Political positions
Noboa has rejected identification with both the
left and
right of the
political spectrum, broadly describing his political alignment as center-left.[46][70][47] Some news outlets have described him as having a conservative view on financial issues and a liberal view on social issues.[71] He has been described as a centrist.[72] According to Constantin Groll, head of the
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung's office in Ecuador, Noboa "stands for business-friendly politics and conservative values, and can be classified as belonging to the right-wing camp".[34]
In June 2021, a complaint filed by Noboa was admitted to a Spanish court to investigate the insurer
Mapfre for the alleged crime of violation of the right to privacy and disclosure of secrets, for data used by Goldbaum during the divorce process.[75][76]
The Brazilian daily Folha de S.Paulo revealed in October 2023 that Noboa is the owner of two offshore companies located in Panama, according to the
Panama Papers.[77] He is also linked to several other companies owned by his father in tax havens.[77] Ecuadorian law prohibits election candidates from owning assets in tax havens.[77]
Personal life
In 2018, he married Gabriela Goldbaum.[78] They had a daughter.[79] They later divorced.[79] In June 2021, a complaint filed by Noboa was accepted by a Spanish court to investigate the insurance company Mapfre. This was related to an alleged violation of privacy and disclosure of secrets involving data used by Goldbaum during their divorce.[80]