Chone:Quito Luisa Gonzalez, the former presidential candidate of Ecuador, has accused President Daniel Noboa’s administration of engaging in political persecution and imposing restrictions on freedoms. Her allegations came after her arrest by the Ecuadorian police.
According to Anadolu Agency – English, Gonzalez was detained in the coastal province of Manabi. The arrest was part of an investigation into suspected money laundering and irregularities in campaign financing, as reported by the Ecuadorian news outlet Primicias, which cited the National Police's Zone 4 command. The operation took place in the canton of Chone and involved detention orders for three individuals in the provinces of Manabi and Pichincha, as stated by the Attorney General's Office.
Gonzalez has voiced her concerns over the state of the nation, describing it as an 'unsustainable situation' due to economic mismanagement, corruption, and violence. She also alleged mistreatment and torture of political prisoners, urging progressive forces to unite in defense of democracy. On the platform X, she expressed the possibility of facing arrest on what she terms "absurd charges."
International reactions included condemnation from Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who criticized Gonzalez's arrest and referred to Ecuador as a dictatorship resulting from electoral fraud. Petro argued that the country's defense mechanisms were misused as a shield against democracy.
Gonzalez's political party, the Citizens' Revolution, and her legal team have denounced her arrest as arbitrary. Gabriela Rivadeneira, the party leader, described it as a kidnapping and demanded Gonzalez's immediate release. The party also called for authorities to disclose her whereabouts and grant her legal team access.
Former Bolivian President Evo Morales has also shown support for Gonzalez, condemning her detention as unjust and part of a broader regional campaign against political leaders and social movements. Gonzalez previously ran against Noboa in both the 2023 and 2025 presidential elections, losing the 2023 runoff. At the time of reporting, authorities had not released detailed allegations against her or confirmed when formal charges would be presented.