Former presidential candidate Luisa González arrested on campaign finance charges
Luisa González, who lost to Daniel Noboa in the 2023 and 2025 presidential elections, was arrested Thursday night in Canuto, in Manabí Province, charged with “irregularities in political financing and electoral spending.” According to prosecutors, González was one of seven people arrested in the so-called “Labyrinth” case.
Luisa González
Prosecutors say the arrest follows an investigation that tracked the origin of campaign finances and possible money laundering. The charges against González involve a total of $6,000.
González’s arrest was met with outrage from members of her Citizens Revolution movement, Pichincha Province Prefect Paola Pabón calling it “another act of tyranny” executed by the Noboa government.
In a post on X, Gonzalez said the accusation was “absurd” and she asked for unity from members of her party to reach freedom and democracy in Ecuador.
The head of the Citizens’ Revolution party, Gabriela Rivadeneira, claimed the arrest was politically motivated. “This is consistent with other gestapo tactics that we have become accustomed from this government in recent months,” she said. “We demand the immediate release of Luisa Gonzalez, who should not have to face a process of persecution and torture imposed by this government.”
In a video posted on social media, the Attorney General’s Office said the investigation was “seeking to clarify” the source of the funds used to finance election advertising between May and August 2023. “A network of legal entities was used to channel and purchase campaign advertising. The funds were allegedly channeled without disclosing their source or the identity of those who contributed them,” it said in a video.
Rivadeneira said the 2023 campaign funds were fully accounted for and prior financial penalties imposed by the electoral authority had been paid, echoing earlier statements from Gonzalez.
Former President Correa, who backed Gonzalez’s candidacy, also disputed the allegations. “This is not about legality, or whether the rules are being followed or not. It is brutal and simple persecution,” he told a local radio program, claiming the government has targeted members of Citizens Revolution.
Ecuador’s Attorney General’s Office in a social media post said seven people are under investigation over “inconsistencies in the contributions and the lawful source of the funds” during the 2023 presidential campaign.
Gonzalez lost both the 2023 and 2025 elections to Noboa, and alleged fraud in last year’s loss. She had attempted to run in local elections set for November 29 but was unable to register her candidacy due to party registration rules.
