"Ecuador's Presidential Election Overshadowed by Violent Gang Warfare"

Ecuadorans will vote for a new president amid a bloody drug war that has spilled from the country's prisons into the streets. The two finalists, Luisa Gonzalez and Daniel Noboa, have campaigned in a climate of fear, with both vowing to address the escalating violence. The main concerns of Ecuadorans are crime and insecurity, followed by unemployment. The country has seen a surge in violence as enemy gangs with links to Mexican and Colombian cartels vie for control. The murder rate has quadrupled in the past four years, and the violence claimed the life of a prominent journalist and presidential candidate. The election will be completed in 16 months, and the winner will face challenges in governance due to a divided parliament and a limited term.