35-year old Daniel Noboa elected Ecuador’s youngest president

(Reuters): Business heir Daniel Noboa on Sunday won Ecuador’s presidential election, vowing to rebuild the South American country, which is struggling with a weak economy and rising crime and violence.

Thirty-five-year-old Noboa, a surprise qualifier for the run-off in the early election, has pledged to improve the economy and create jobs for young people, as well as to house dangerous criminals on prison ships.

His supporters celebrated across the country, noting that he is a politician who comes from outside traditional politics and his youthful vision.

Noboa will face the significant challenge of righting an economy – which has struggled since the coronavirus pandemic and motivated many thousands of Ecuadoreans to migrate – and sharply rising crime, including increases in murders, robberies and prison riots.