In inauguration speech, Noboa vows to build a ‘new Ecuador that leaves the old politics behind’

In his Saturday inauguration address, President Daniel Noboa proclaimed his decisive election victory marks the end of an “old Ecuador,” and a new beginning. “There are moments in the history of a country that mark a before and after, moments when you can no longer look back, but must look forward,” he said. “Today is one of those days, a day to speak with the conviction that what is to come belongs to all of us.”

President Danel Noboa with National Assembly President Niels Olsen at Saturday’s inauguration.

The president claimed his political project was not “simply an electoral campaign” but a call for a new form of government. “The New Ecuador will be built with profound reforms and concrete actions. It will be firm against crime, fair with its people and transparent in its works.”

Noboa claimed he had made progress in the fight against crime during his first 17 months in office, a fact he said was confirmed by voters in the May election. “We acted in a forceful and determined way, with the sole objective of saving this country. Our homeland had been plundered, corrupted and kidnapped and we took the first steps to change this disastrous course.”

Noboa promised to “strengthen and shield” the National Police and armed forces, saying he will send legislation to the National Assembly asking additional resources for the fight against international crime. He is also developing proposals, he said, to increase the country’s energy supply with an emphasis on alternative and nuclear power production.

“Here, we are a free people living on free soil,” Noboa said concluding his speech. “We insist on living in a country where dignity and progress will finally prevail.”

Noboa delivered his comments to a full house at National Assembly in Quito. In addition to government ministers, assembly members and friends and family, the presidents of Colombia and Peru, Gustavo Petro and Dina Boluarte, and representatives from more than 60 countries were in attendance.