Ecuador: Daniel Noboa Sworn in as New President, Becomes Country's Youngest President Yet
It is official! Daniel Noboa is now Ecuador's new president and is now the South American country's youngest president ever. However, he faces some very tough challenges ahead as he finally takes office.
While many believe Noboa's youth is an asset, others think his inexperience in politics may also cost him as Ecuador faces plenty of economic and social challenges, as well as an uptick in violence as criminal organizations continue to make their presence felt.
Ecuador used to be a peaceful country but has now become an important hub in the illegal drug trade. Local criminal organizations have teamed up with Colombian and Mexican drug cartels to ship illegal drugs to Europe and the US.
There is also some political instability in the country. Noboa's term will run only through May 2025 as the term he is serving is the remainder of former President Guillermo Lasso's tenure, per the Associated Press.
Despite the mounting challenges he is facing, Noboa, who is the son of one of the richest people in the country, is still forging forward as he received the presidential sash from the head of the country's newly elected legislature, Henry Kronfle in Quito.
New President Daniel Noboa Pledges To Reduce Violence and Create More Jobs
In his inaugural speech, Ecuador's new president, Daniel Noboa, stated, "To fight violence we must fight unemployment. The country needs jobs and to create them I will send urgent reforms to the assembly, which should be treated with responsibility and by putting the country first."
"We cannot keep repeating the same policies of the past expecting to have a different result," he continued before telling everyone that they should all work together to tackle violence and misery, adding, "The job is hard and difficult and the days are few."
READ MORE: Ecuador Political Violence Continues as Local Political Leader Is Killed
According to Reuters, with his tenure as president limited, he is expected to declare a state of emergency for Ecuador. This will allow him to propose laws to the assembly with 30-day approval timelines to address the rising amount of violence in the country. However, this tactic was also used by his predecessor and had little effect on curbing crime.
Ecuador's crime rate is increasing, and it was made worse when presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was assassinated by a criminal organization. To further complicate matters, the El Nino phenomenon is causing a massive drought in El Salvador, causing power problems all over the country.
Who Is New Ecuador President Daniel Noboa?
At 35 years old, Daniel Noboa is the youngest president in Ecuador's history. He is also the heir to a billion-dollar banana empire, being the son of one of Ecuador's richest men, Alvaro Noboa, who himself ran for president multiple times and lost.
He graduated with a degree in business administration from New York University and has three master's degrees from Harvard, Northwestern, and George Washington universities. However, despite him being a notable capitalist, he formed an unlikely alliance with leftist former President Rafael Correa and the right-wing Social Christian Party.
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
WATCH: Gravitas: Daniel Noboa Ecuador's 'Banana Heir' is the new President - WION