International
Noboa’s 100 days in office: Ecuador’s president steers tough crime policies and economic overhauls
Ecuador’s President, Daniel Noboa, celebrates one hundred days in office with significant popularity, attributed to his firm stance against crime, declaring an “internal armed conflict,” and driving economic reforms to stabilize the state’s finances, including an increase in the value-added tax (VAT).
Assuming office at 35 in November last year, the youngest president in Ecuador’s democratic history inherited a nation grappling with soaring crime rates, primarily driven by criminal syndicates, notably those involved in drug trafficking. Additionally, Ecuador faced a substantial fiscal deficit of $4.8 billion, nearly 5% of the gross domestic product (GDP).
Noboa has garnered support for economic reforms in the National Assembly, a body that acted as a barrier for his predecessor Guillermo Lasso between 2021 and 2023.
Noboa’s Economic Reforms
The government’s political maneuverability, manifested in “mobile majorities” in the Assembly, has facilitated Noboa’s efforts to raise additional funds to address the country’s economic crisis and combat insecurity. Notably, the VAT increased from 12% to 15% starting April.
On January 9, the government faced one of the toughest moments in recent years when an armed group stormed a television channel during a live broadcast, coinciding with violent incidents in the streets and riots in several prisons, resulting in the release of 200 hostages, including police officers and guards.
All this occurred amid a state of emergency, followed by the declaration of an “internal armed conflict” against criminal gangs, which Noboa labeled as “terrorists.”
Intervention in Prisons
Simultaneously, the police and armed forces intervened in prisons, which had become centers of the security crisis, controlled by criminal gangs responsible for a series of prison massacres since 2020, claiming over 450 inmate lives.
During this period, over 64 tons of drugs have been seized, including the largest cocaine haul in the country’s history, totaling 21.5 tons found on a rural estate.
Political analyst Cristian Carpio views security as the linchpin of the government’s sustainability.
“The declaration of an internal armed conflict provided the president with political legitimacy to advance his actions and garnered increased support from the citizenry,” he told EFE.
He attributes the lack of significant opposition to the VAT hike, certain reforms, or Noboa’s announcement to analyze the elimination of fuel subsidies to the “perception” of security. However, Carpio anticipates potential shifts as citizens feel the economic effects of these measures, prompting the government to pivot towards job creation.
Fulfilling a campaign promise to convene a referendum, Ecuadorians will vote on April 21 to respond to eleven questions, mostly pertaining to security.
“The government leveraged the referendum on security issues, which not only bolstered its legitimacy among the populace but also before the Constitutional Court. I’m not sure if, under different circumstances, steps would have been taken, such as the issue of hourly work, which has been a red line in Ecuador’s politics,” he said.
According to the analyst, Noboa has “high chances of winning the referendum,” paving the way for a reelection campaign.
Political Capital in the Pre-election Year
Carpio highlights Noboa’s enduring political honeymoon three months into his presidency, enjoying popularity ranging from 70% to 80% according to various polls. However, he expresses concern over potential declines due to the economic measures.
“Nevertheless, it’s a significant political capital, especially in a pre-election year,” he emphasized, noting that Ecuadorians will elect a new president in 2025, as Noboa was elected to complete Lasso’s term until May of that year.
International
Man arrested after deliberately driving into seven children in Osaka
Japanese police arrested a man on Thursday after he rammed his car into a group of seven schoolchildren in an apparent deliberate attack in the city of Osaka.
The children, who were on their way home from school, sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital. All seven remained conscious, according to local authorities.
An Osaka police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the suspect is a 28-year-old man from Tokyo. The officer shared statements the man made after his arrest: “I was fed up with everything, so I decided to kill people by driving into several elementary school children,” the suspect reportedly said.
The man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The injured children, aged between seven and eight, included a seven-year-old girl who suffered a fractured jaw. The six other children—all boys—suffered minor injuries such as bruises and scratches and were undergoing medical evaluation.
Witnesses described the car as “zigzagging” before hitting the children. One witness told Nippon TV that a girl was “covered in blood” and the others appeared to have scratches.
Another witness said the driver, who was wearing a face mask, looked to be in shock when school staff pulled him from the vehicle.
Violent crimes are rare in Japan, though serious incidents do occur from time to time. In 2008, Tomohiro Kato drove a two-ton truck into pedestrians in Tokyo’s Akihabara district, then fatally stabbed several victims. Seven people were killed in that attack.
Internacionales
Clashes erupt during may day protests across France amid calls for better wages
May Day protests in France were marked by a heavy police presence and clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement in several cities.
In Paris, Lyon, and Nantes, thousands took to the streets to demand better wages, fairer working conditions, and to voice their dissatisfaction with President Emmanuel Macron’s government.
While the majority of the demonstrations remained peaceful, isolated confrontations broke out in some areas. Protesters threw objects at the police, prompting the use of tear gas and resulting in several arrests.
Videos showing police crackdowns circulated widely on social media, drawing criticism from labor unions and human rights advocates, who denounced the authorities’ response to the protests.
International
Kristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claimed that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has deported “more than half a million” migrants due to pressure from former President Donald Trump.
During a cabinet meeting highlighting the “achievements” of Trump’s administration in its first 100 days, Noem asserted that under the Republican leader’s influence, “Mexico has finally come to the table” to negotiate on migration and fentanyl trafficking.
“The president of Mexico told me she has returned just over half a million people before they reached our border,” Noem stated, criticizing media reports that suggest the Biden administration deported more migrants than Trump’s.
“I wish those deportations were counted,” Noem added, “because those people never made it to our border—she sent them back because you made her.” She went on to thank Trump: “They never made it here because they got the message—because you were so aggressive.”
Noem has made controversial claims about Sheinbaum in the past, prompting the Mexican leader to refute them.
On April 1, Sheinbaum responded to one such statement by declaring, “The president answers to only one authority, and that is the people of Mexico,” after Noem said on Fox News that she gave Sheinbaum “a list of things Trump would like to see” and that Mexico’s actions would determine whether Trump granted tariff relief.
Man arrested after deliberately driving into seven children in Osaka
Clashes erupt during may day protests across France amid calls for better wages
Kristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president
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