Noboa and Luisa González will not appear together in Sunday’s presidential debate

The leading presidential candidates, President Daniel Noboa and Citizens Revolution’s Luisa González, will not share the same stage during Sunday’s presidential debate. Because of the large number of candidates, 16, the debate has been divided into two sessions with the groups determined by a random drawing.

President Daniel Noboa and Luisa González

The debate with the first group of candidates, including Noboa, begins at 7 p.m. Sunday on Ecuador TV. The second group, with González, debates at 8:35.

Political commentators and former president Rafael Correa criticized the debate format for not allowing Noboa and González to appear together. “Let’s be honest, this is a two-horse race, and it is unfortunate that the top candidates will not be allowed to question each other,” said Fabian Ortiz, a Guayaquil radio talk show host. “Luisa and Noboa are polling very close together while none of the other candidates have more than two percent support.”

In a social media post, Correa claimed the debate format gave Noboa an unfair advantage. “In this case, the luck of the draw is not fair to Ecuadorian voters since it does not allow Luisa González to directly question Noboa’s corruption and illegality,” he said. “The election commission should have changed the selection process to have the leading candidates together on the same stage.”

According to a composite of five opinion polls, Noboa holds a 3% lead over Luisa González, 33% to 30%, while only two of the other candidates has more than 2% support.

Based on a previously determined agreement, the debate will focus on the issues of crime and security, government efficiency, public services, and employment. Unlike past debates, candidates will be allowed to directly question other candidates in each debate session.

Candidates included in the first debate session are: Henry Cucalón (Construye); Jimmy Jairala, (Centro Democrático); Francesco Tabacchi (CREO); Jorge Escala (Unidad Popular); Henry Kronfle (Social Christians); Luis Felipe Tillería (Avanza); Juan Iván Cueva (Amigo); and Daniel Noboa (National Democratic Action).

The second session includes: Enrique Gómez (SUMA); Luisa González (Citizens Revolution); Carlos Rabascall (Democratic Left); Andrea González (Patriotic Society); Pedro Granja (Socialist Party); Iván Saquicela (Democracia Sí); Leonidas Iza (Pachakutik); and Víctor Araus (People, Equality and Democracy).