Editing History of Ecuador (section)

=== A shift to the right and social conflict (2017–present)===

====Moreno's presidency (2017–2021)====
{{See also|War on Drugs in Ecuador}}
Rafael Correa's three consecutive terms (from 2007 to 2017) were followed by his former Vice President Lenín Moreno's four years as president (2017–21). In the weeks after his election, Moreno distanced himself from Correa's policies<ref name=":12">{{Cite news|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/ecuador-unrest-led-mass-protests-191010193825529.html|title=Ecuador unrest: What led to the mass protests?|last=Brown|first=Kimberley|date=2019-10-10|access-date=2019-10-11|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011040325/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/ecuador-unrest-led-mass-protests-191010193825529.html|archive-date=2019-10-11|publisher=[[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]]}}</ref> and shifted the left-wing PAIS Alliance's away from the left-wing politics and towards the [[Neoliberalism|neoliberal]] governance.<ref name=":24" /> Despite these policy shifts, Moreno continued to identify himself as [[social democrat]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.coha.org/from-rafael-correa-to-lenin-moreno-ecuadors-swing-to-the-right/|title=From Rafael Correa to Lenín Moreno: Ecuador's Swing to the Right|last=Ripley|first=Charles G.|date=2 July 2019|publisher=[[Council on Hemispheric Affairs]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726101110/http://www.coha.org/from-rafael-correa-to-lenin-moreno-ecuadors-swing-to-the-right/|archive-date=26 July 2019|access-date=9 October 2019}}</ref> Moreno then led the [[2018 Ecuadorian referendum and popular consultation|2018 Ecuadorian referendum]], which reinstated [[Term limit|presidential term limits]] that were removed by Correa, barring Correa from running for a fourth presidential term in the future.<ref name=":24"/> At his election, Moreno enjoyed an [[Lenín Moreno#Approval rating|approval rating of 79 percent]]. Moreno's distancing from his predecessor's policies and his electoral campaign's platform, however, alienated both former President Correa<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ecuador-rafael-correa-lenin-moreno-strips-wikileaks-julian-assange-asylum-status/|title=How Ecuador's shifting politics led to Julian Assange's arrest, and a snarky tweet from the ex-president|last=Ott|first=Haley|date=2019-04-12|access-date=2019-10-11|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416192120/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ecuador-rafael-correa-lenin-moreno-strips-wikileaks-julian-assange-asylum-status/|archive-date=2019-04-16|publisher=[[CBS News]]|language=en-US}}</ref> and a large percentage of his own party's supporters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/24024/he-outmaneuvered-correa-but-how-long-can-ecuador-s-moreno-keep-his-high-wire-act-up|title=He Outmaneuvered Correa, but How Long Can Ecuador's Moreno Keep His High-Wire Act Up?|website=worldpoliticsreview.com|date=22 January 2018 |access-date=2019-10-11}}</ref><ref name = cuenca>{{Cite web|url=https://cuencahighlife.com/with-moreno-off-the-2021-ballot-alianza-pais-looks-for-a-new-direction-new-leadership/|title=With Moreno off the 2021 ballot, Alianza Pais looks for a new direction, new leadership – CuencaHighLife|website=cuencahighlife.com|date=16 July 2019|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-11}}</ref> In July 2018, a warrant for Correa's arrest was issued after facing 29 charges for alleged acts of corruption while he was in office.<ref name=":32"/><ref name=":02">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-44706554|title=Ecuador court orders ex-president Correa's arrest|date=2018-07-04|access-date=2018-07-04|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331171631/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-44706554|archive-date=2019-03-31|publisher=[[BBC News]]|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="APcoup">{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/2ba31ddc50854e93af2b356a771efe79|title=Ex-Ecuador president wants new vote, denies planning coup|last=Petrequin|first=Samuel|date=2019-10-10|access-date=2019-10-11|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191011035903/https://apnews.com/2ba31ddc50854e93af2b356a771efe79|archive-date=2019-10-11|work=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

Due to increased borrowing by Correa's administration, which he had used to fund social welfare projects, as well as the [[2010s oil glut]], public debt tripled in a five-year period, with Ecuador eventually coming to use of the [[Central Bank of Ecuador|Central Bank of Ecuador's]] reserves for funds.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2019/04/11/lenin-morenos-new-economic-policy|title=Lenín Moreno's new economic policy|date=2019-04-11|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|access-date=2019-10-11|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190708183822/https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2019/04/11/lenin-morenos-new-economic-policy|archive-date=2019-07-08|issn=0013-0613|url-access=registration}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/3163699112084840882bcb603cb7aa2c|title=Ecuador clash site has party clowns, recycling, tear gas|last1=Weissenstein|first1=Michael|date=2019-10-12|access-date=2019-10-12|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191014050546/https://apnews.com/3163699112084840882bcb603cb7aa2c|archive-date=2019-10-14|work=[[Associated Press]]|last2=Solano|first2=Gonzalo}}</ref> In total, Ecuador was left $64 billion in debt and was losing $10 billion annually.<ref name=":2" /> On 21 August 2018, Moreno announced economic austerity measures to reduce public spending and the [[Government budget balance|deficit]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=https://elpais.com/internacional/2018/08/23/america/1535032960_309583.html|title=Ecuador anuncia un nuevo ajuste para enderezar el déficit fiscal|last=España|first=Sara|date=23 August 2018|work=El País|access-date=13 October 2019|location=Guayaquil|language=es}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nodal.am/2018/08/plan-de-austeridad-para-ecuador-lenin-moreno-recorta-ministerios-y-aumenta-la-gasolina/|title=Plan de austeridad en Ecuador: Lenín Moreno recorta ministerios y aumenta la gasolina|last=Perelló|first=Carla|date=22 August 2018|work=NODAL|access-date=13 October 2019|language=es}}</ref> Moreno stated that the measures aimed to save $1 billion and included a reduction of fuel subsidies, eliminating subsidies for [[gasoline]] and [[Diesel fuel|diesel]], and the removal or merging of several public entities, a move denounced by the groups representing the nation's indigenous groups and trade unions.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /><ref name=":24" />

At the same time, Lenín Moreno moved away from his predecessor's left-leaning foreign policy. In August 2018, Ecuador withdrew from [[Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America]] (Alba), a regional bloc of leftwing governments led by Venezuela.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://apnews.com/article/6a7d8ed8738a475d8b6c276ffa0b761e| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201030161039/https://apnews.com/article/6a7d8ed8738a475d8b6c276ffa0b761e| archive-date = 2020-10-30| title = Ecuador leaves Venezuelan-run regional alliance| website = [[Associated Press]]}}</ref> In October 2018, the government of President Lenin Moreno cut diplomatic relations with the [[Nicolás Maduro]] regime of Venezuela, a close ally of Rafael Correa.<ref>In October 2019, the government of President Lenin Moreno cut diplomatic relations with the Nicolás Maduro regime of Venezuela, a close ally of Rafael Correa.</ref> In March 2019, Ecuador withdrew from [[Union of South American Nations]]. Ecuador was an original member of the block, founded by left-wing governments in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2008. Ecuador also asked UNASUR to return the headquarters building of the organization, based in its capital city, Quito.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://peoplesdispatch.org/2020/03/11/uruguayan-government-withdraws-from-unasur-and-returns-to-tiar/|title=Uruguayan government withdraws from UNASUR and returns to TIAR|date=11 March 2020}}</ref> In June 2019, Ecuador agreed to allow US military planes to operate from an airport on the Galapagos Islands.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/ecuador-galapagos-us-military-scli-intl/index.html|title = Outcry as Ecuador allows US military to use Galapagos airstrip| date=18 June 2019 }}</ref>

In October 2019, Lenín Moreno announced a package of economic measures as part of a deal with the [[International Monetary Fund]] (IMF) to obtain {{USD|4.2 billion}} in credit. These measures became known as "el paquetazo" and they included the end of fuel [[subsidy|subsidies]], removal of some import tariffs and cuts in public worker benefits and wages.<ref name="bbc-4reasons">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-49978717|title=4 razones que explican la crisis económica que llevó a Lenín Moreno a decretar el "paquetazo" que desató las protestas|last=Barría|first=Cecilia|date=9 October 2019|access-date=13 October 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010104945/https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-49978717|archive-date=10 October 2019|publisher=[[BBC Mundo]]|language=es|trans-title=Crisis in Ecuador: 4 reasons that explain the crisis that led Lenín Moreno to decree the "package" that unleashed the protests}}</ref><ref name=nodal-paquetazo>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nodal.am/2019/10/lenin-moreno-anuncia-paquetazo-economico-y-reformas-laborales-como-parte-del-acuerdo-con-el-fmi/|title=Lenín Moreno anuncia paquetazo económico como parte del acuerdo con el FMI|work=NODAL|language=es|access-date=13 October 2019}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/ecuador-unrest-led-mass-protests-191010193825529.html|title=Ecuador unrest: What led to the mass protests?|last=Brown|first=Kimberley|date=10 October 2019|access-date=11 October 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011040325/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/ecuador-unrest-led-mass-protests-191010193825529.html|archive-date=11 October 2019|publisher=[[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]]}}</ref> [[2019 Ecuadorian protests|This caused mass protests]] which began on 3 October 2019. On 8 October, President Moreno relocated his [[Government of Ecuador|government]] to the coastal city of [[Guayaquil]] after anti-government protesters had overrun Quito, including the [[Carondelet Palace]]. On the same day, Moreno accused his predecessor [[Rafael Correa]] of orchestrating a coup against the government with the aid of Venezuela's [[Nicolás Maduro]], a charge which Correa denied.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ecuador-protests-correa/ex-ecuador-president-correa-denies-planning-coup-attempt-from-exile-idUSKBN1WN1IP|title=Ex-Ecuador president Correa denies planning coup attempt from exile|last=Emmott|first=Robin|date=8 October 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011011113/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ecuador-protests-correa/ex-ecuador-president-correa-denies-planning-coup-attempt-from-exile-idUSKBN1WN1IP|archive-date=11 October 2019|work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Later that day, the authorities shut down oil production at the Sacha oil field, which produces 10% of the nation's oil, after it was occupied by protesters. Two more oil fields were captured by protesters shortly thereafter. Demonstrators also captured repeater antennas, forcing state TV and radio offline in parts of the country. Indigenous protesters, organized by the [[Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador|CONAIE]] confederation, blocked most of Ecuador's main roads, completely cutting the transport routes to the city of [[Cuenca, Ecuador|Cuenca]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-08/ecuador-protests-shut-major-oilfield-amid-national-unrest|title=Ecuador Protests Shut Major Oilfield During State of Emergency|last=Kueffner|first=Stephan|date=7 October 2019|access-date=9 October 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191008145214/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-08/ecuador-protests-shut-major-oilfield-amid-national-unrest|archive-date=8 October 2019|agency=[[Bloomberg News]]}}</ref> On 9 October, protesters managed to briefly burst into and occupy the [[National Assembly (Ecuador)|National Assembly]], before being driven out by police using [[tear gas]]. Violent clashes erupted between demonstrators and police forces as the protests spread further.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-49981521|title=Ecuador protesters storm parliament amid unrest|date=9 October 2019|access-date=9 October 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011041145/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-49981521|archive-date=11 October 2019|publisher=[[BBC News]]|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ecuador-curfew-protests-president-lenin-moreno-asuterity-capital-quito-to-guayaquil-today-2019-10-09/|title=Ecuador imposes curfew as protests force President Lenin Moreno to leave Quito|date=9 October 2019|access-date=9 October 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011004841/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ecuador-curfew-protests-president-lenin-moreno-asuterity-capital-quito-to-guayaquil-today-2019-10-09/|archive-date=11 October 2019|publisher=[[CBS News]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|language=en-US}}</ref> During the late-night hours of 13 October, the Ecuadorian government and CONAIE reached an agreement during a televised negotiation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/10/14/770104729/ecuador-reaches-fuel-subsidy-deal-to-end-violent-protests|title=Ecuador Reaches Fuel Subsidy Deal To End Violent Protests|website=NPR|date=14 October 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-10-14|last1=Arnold|first1=Chris}}</ref> Both parties agreed to collaborate on new economic measures to combat overspending and debt. The government agreed to end the austerity measures at the center of the controversy, and the protesters in turn agreed to end the two-week-long series of demonstrations. President Moreno agreed to withdraw Decree 883, an IMF-backed plan that caused a significant rise in fuel costs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ecuador-protests-idUSKBN1WS0ND|title=Ecuador's president strikes 'peace' deal, agrees to change fuel subsidy cuts|last1=Valencia|first1=Alexandra|date=2019-10-14|work=Reuters|access-date=2019-10-15|last2=Munoz|first2=Ignacio|language=en}}</ref>

Relations with the United States improved significantly during the presidency of Lenin Moreno. In February 2020, his visit to Washington was the first meeting between an Ecuadorian and US president in 17 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latinousa.org/2020/02/13/trumpleninmoreno/|title=Trump Receives Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno|date=13 February 2020}}</ref>

==== Lasso's  (2021-2023) and Noboa's (since 2023) presidencies ====
{{see also|2023 Ecuadorian political crisis}}

The April 2021 [[2021 Ecuadorian general election|election]] run-off vote ended in a win for conservative former banker, [[Guillermo Lasso]], who took 52.4% of the vote compared to 47.6% for left-wing economist [[Andrés Arauz]], supported by the exiled former president, Rafael Correa. Previously, President-elect Lasso had finished second in the 2013 and 2017 presidential elections.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-56713570|title = Guillermo Lasso: Conservative ex-banker elected Ecuador president|work = BBC News|date = 12 April 2021}}</ref>  On 24 May 2021, Guillermo Lasso was sworn in as the new [[President of Ecuador]], becoming the country's first right-wing leader in 14 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210524-lasso-inaugurated-as-first-right-wing-ecuador-president-in-14-years|title=Lasso inaugurated as first right-wing Ecuador president in 14 years|date=24 May 2021}}</ref>

In October 2021, President Lasso declared a 60-day state of emergency aiming to combat crime and drug-related violence.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ecuador president declares state of emergency over drug violence |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/19/ecuador-president-declares-state-of-emergency-over-drug-violence |work=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref>  In October 2022, a bloody riot among inmates at a prison in central Ecuador caused 16 deaths, among whom was the drug crime boss Leonardo Norero, alias “El Patron.” In Ecuador's state prisons there were numerous bloody clashes between rival groups of prisoners.<ref>{{cite news |title=Drug capo among 16 dead in bloody Ecuador prison riot |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/drug-capo-among-16-dead-in-bloody-ecuador-prison-riot/2022/10/04/fc28fee6-443a-11ed-be17-89cbe6b8c0a5_story.html |newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref>

[[File:Leonidas_Iza,_presidente_de_la_CONAIE.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A man in a fedora and poncho, seated in front of logos for CONAIE and the flags of CONAIE and Ecuador|[[Leonidas Iza]], president of CONAIE, a confederation of Ecuadorian Indigenous groups, in 2022]]
A series of [[2022 Ecuadorian protests|protests]] against the economic policies of [[Ecuadorian president]] [[Guillermo Lasso]], triggered by increasing fuel and food prices, took place in June 2022. Initiated by and primarily attended by Indigenous activists, in particular CONAIE, the protests were later joined by students and workers who were also affected by the price increases. Lasso condemned the protests and labelled them as an attempted "[[coup d'état]]" against his government.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/spa/ecuador-protestas_lasso-denuncia-un-intento-de-golpe-de-estado-detr%C3%A1s-de-protestas-en-ecuador/47702026|title=Lasso denuncia un intento de golpe de Estado detrás de protestas en Ecuador|publisher=Swiss Info|accessdate=29 June 2022|date=24 June 2022|language=Spanish|archive-date=25 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625020247/https://www.swissinfo.ch/spa/ecuador-protestas_lasso-denuncia-un-intento-de-golpe-de-estado-detr%C3%A1s-de-protestas-en-ecuador/47702026|url-status=live}}</ref>

As a result of the protests, Lasso declared a state of emergency.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2022-06-22|title=Ecuador Indigenous protesters arrive in Quito as president extends state of emergency|url=https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20220621-ecuador-indigenous-protesters-arrive-in-quito-as-president-extends-state-of-emergency|date=21 June 2022|website=France 24|archive-date=2022-06-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622001822/https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20220621-ecuador-indigenous-protesters-arrive-in-quito-as-president-extends-state-of-emergency|url-status=live}}</ref> When the protests blocked roads and ports in Quito and Guayaquil, there were food and fuel shortages across the country as a result.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2022-06-23|title=Ecuador facing food and fuel shortages as country rocked by violent protests|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/22/ecuador-protests|date=22 June 2022|website=The Guardian|archive-date=2022-06-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623000532/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/22/ecuador-protests|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.barrons.com/news/in-protest-hit-ecuador-shortages-of-key-goods-start-to-bite-01656293406|title=In Protest-hit Ecuador, Shortages Of Key Goods Start To Bite|publisher=Barrons|accessdate=30 June 2022|archive-date=30 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630131216/https://www.barrons.com/articles/micron-technology-earnings-chip-prices-51656421970?jsondata=r&tesla=y|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ecuador-protests-take-increasingly-violent-turn-in-capital/2022/06/21/f76c5868-f1b9-11ec-ac16-8fbf7194cd78_story.html|title=Ecuador protests take increasingly violent turn in capital|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=30 June 2022|archive-date=30 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630131215/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ecuador-protests-take-increasingly-violent-turn-in-capital/2022/06/21/f76c5868-f1b9-11ec-ac16-8fbf7194cd78_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Lasso was criticized for allowing violent and deadly responses towards protestors. The President narrowly escaped impeachment in a vote in [[National Assembly (Ecuador)|Congress]]. At the end of June, protesters agreed to end their protests and blockades in return for an agreement by the government to discuss and try to address their demands.<ref>{{cite web |title=El movimiento indígena y el gobierno de Ecuador firman un acuerdo |date=30 June 2022 |url=https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2022/06/30/movimiento-indigena-declara-cese-de-movilizaciones-tras-acuerdo-con-gobierno-ecuatoriano-orix/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015131602/https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2022/06/30/movimiento-indigena-declara-cese-de-movilizaciones-tras-acuerdo-con-gobierno-ecuatoriano-orix/ |archive-date=15 October 2022 |accessdate=3 March 2023 |publisher=CNN Español}}</ref>

Lasso proposed a series of constitutional changes to enhance his government's ability to respond to rising, largely drug-related crime. In a [[2023 Ecuadorian constitutional referendum|referendum]] in February 2023, voters overwhelmingly rejected his proposed changes. This result weakened Lasso's political standing.<ref>{{cite web |title="El partido del presidente Lasso ha tenido un desempeño muy deficiente", dice analista |date=6 February 2023 |url=https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/video/referendo-ecuador-elecciones-guillermo-lasso-correismo-sot-cafe/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207011124/https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/video/referendo-ecuador-elecciones-guillermo-lasso-correismo-sot-cafe/ |archive-date=7 February 2023 |accessdate=3 March 2023 |publisher=CNN Español}}</ref> Meanwhile, Lasso's government faced accusations of corruption. Citing those accusations and claiming that the government had failed to meet its demands from June 2022, CONAIE called on Lasso to resign and declared itself in a state of "permanent mobilization", threatening additional protests.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2023/02/25/movimiento-indigena-de-ecuador-pide-la-renuncia-de-guillermo-lasso-orix/|title=Movimiento indígena de Ecuador pide la renuncia de Guillermo Lasso y se declara en movilización permanente|date=25 February 2023 |publisher=CNN Español|access-date=3 March 2023|archive-date=25 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225184707/https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2023/02/25/movimiento-indigena-de-ecuador-pide-la-renuncia-de-guillermo-lasso-orix/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/politica/conaie-marchara-el-8-de-marzo-por-los-derechos-de-la-mujer-contra-el-extractivismo-y-por-incumplimientos-del-gobierno-a-los-acuerdos-del-dialogo-nota/|title=Conaie marchará el 8 de marzo por los derechos de la mujer, contra el extractivismo y por incumplimientos del Gobierno a los acuerdos del diálogo|date=3 March 2023 |publisher=El Universo|accessdate=3 March 2023|archive-date=3 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230303032041/https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/politica/conaie-marchara-el-8-de-marzo-por-los-derechos-de-la-mujer-contra-el-extractivismo-y-por-incumplimientos-del-gobierno-a-los-acuerdos-del-dialogo-nota/}}</ref>

In a bid to avoid impeachment after the opposition-controlled national assembly accused him of impeachment, Lasso triggered a provision in the Ecuadorian constitution, called "Muertaza Cruzada", which triggered both presidential and parliamentary elections.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/17/ecuador-guillermo-lasso-dissolves-congress-impeachment|title=Ecuador's embattled president dissolves congress in bid to avoid impeachment|first1=Tom|last1=Phillips|first2=Dan|last2=Collyns|first3=Tom Phillips Latin America|last3=correspondent|date=May 17, 2023|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> He moved to rule by decree and promised to hold fresh elections within six months. Military leadership of the country promised to back him. Lasso's move was condemned by opposition figures, including ex-president [[Rafael Correa]] and [[Leonidas Iza]]<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ecuadoran President Guillermo Lasso dissolves Congress, avoiding impeachment |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/05/17/ecuador-guillermo-lasso-dissolves-congress-impeachment/ |access-date=2023-08-07 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> It was initially thought that Lasso would be a contender in the elections, but he later informed that he was not going to be a candidate.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/ecuadorean-president-lasso-will-not-run-august-election-2023-06-02/|title=Ecuadorean President Lasso will not run in August election|first=Alexandra|last=Valencia|newspaper=Reuters |date=June 2, 2023|via=www.reuters.com}}</ref>

On 15 October 2023, center-right candidate [[Daniel Noboa]] won the run-off of the premature p[[2023 Ecuadorian general election|residential election]] with 52.3% of the vote against leftist candidate [[Luisa González]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Alvarado |first1=Tara John, Abel |title=Noboa, 35, to become Ecuador's next president following election dominated by spiraling crime |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/15/americas/ecuador-election-gonzalez-noboa-intl-latam/index.html |work=CNN |date=15 October 2023 |language=en}}</ref> On 23 November 2023, Daniel Noboa was sworn in as Ecuador's new president.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Business heir Daniel Noboa sworn in as Ecuador president |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/23/millionaire-daniel-noboa-sworn-in-as-ecuador-president |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref>

On 7 January 2024, [[Los Choneros]] leader [[José Adolfo Macías Villamar]] escaped from prison in the city of [[Guayaquil]], on the day of his scheduled transfer to a maximum-security prison. The events were reported the next day by authorities, with charges being filed against two prison guards.<ref name=ap>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/ecuador-gang-leader-prison-violence-los-choneros-1bef48cc79d52a854a63a2f3c64ca4b5|title=A notorious Ecuadorian gang leader vanishes from prison and authorities investigate if he escaped|website=AP|date=8 January 2024|access-date=10 January 2024|archive-date=8 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108184831/https://apnews.com/article/ecuador-gang-leader-prison-violence-los-choneros-1bef48cc79d52a854a63a2f3c64ca4b5|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=cbs>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ecuador-gunmen-fire-shots-live-tv-country-violent-attacks-daniel-noboa/|title=Gunmen in Ecuador fire shots on live TV as country hit by series of violent attacks|website=CBS News|date=10 January 2024 |access-date=10 January 2024|archive-date=10 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110002517/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ecuador-gunmen-fire-shots-live-tv-country-violent-attacks-daniel-noboa/|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the escape, Noboa declared a state of emergency, to last for 60 days,<ref name="cnn internal armed conflict">{{Cite web |last=John |first=Tara |date=2024-01-09 |title=Ecuador declares 'internal armed conflict' as gunmen take over live TV broadcast |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/09/americas/armed-men-interrupt-live-tv-ecuador-intl/index.html |access-date=2024-01-09 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=9 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109233303/https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/09/americas/armed-men-interrupt-live-tv-ecuador-intl/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> giving authorities the power to suspend people's rights and allowing the military to be mobilized inside prisons. Riots ensued in multiple prisons across Ecuador.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 January 2024 |title=Ecuador declares state of emergency after narco boss escapes prison |url=https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20240108-ecuador-declares-state-of-emergency-after-narco-boss-escapes-prison |access-date=9 January 2024 |website=France 24 |language=en |archive-date=10 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110233159/https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20240108-ecuador-declares-state-of-emergency-after-narco-boss-escapes-prison |url-status=live }}</ref> Two days later, [[2024 conflict in Ecuador|mass armed attacks]] occurred throughout the country, including armed groups storming a television broadcasting station mid-air.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Presse |first=AFP-Agence France |title=Ecuador In State Of 'Internal Armed Conflict': President |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/ecuador-in-state-of-internal-armed-conflict-president-79951b45 |access-date=9 January 2024 |website=www.barrons.com |language=en-US |archive-date=10 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110233133/https://www.barrons.com/news/ecuador-in-state-of-internal-armed-conflict-president-79951b45 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=LOPEZ |first=Paola |date=9 January 2024 |title=Gunshots on live TV as Ecuador gangsters vow 'war' |url=https://www.heraldpalladium.com/news/national/gunshots-on-live-tv-as-ecuador-gangsters-vow-war/article_bb7c543c-e4bf-5702-8612-5a8c1cfc1dc8.html |access-date=9 January 2024 |website=The Herald Palladium |language=en |archive-date=10 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110233238/https://www.heraldpalladium.com/news/national/gunshots-on-live-tv-as-ecuador-gangsters-vow-war/article_bb7c543c-e4bf-5702-8612-5a8c1cfc1dc8.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On 23 March 2024, Ecuador's youngest mayor, 27-year-old  [[Brigitte García]], mayor of [[San Vicente, Ecuador|San Vicente]] for the opposition [[The Citizens' Revolution]], was shot dead.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ecuador's youngest mayor Brigitte García shot dead |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-68655323 |date=25 March 2024}}</ref> In April 2025,  President Daniel Noboa won the run-off round of Ecuador's [[2025 Ecuadorian general election|presidential election]], meaning he will now serve a full four-year term.<ref>{{cite news |title=Daniel Noboa: Centre-right leader wins re-election in Ecuador |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gr8dw20evo |work=www.bbc.com |date=14 April 2025}}</ref>