World
Ecuador Opposition Leader Luisa González Detained Amid Campaign Finance Investigation
Ecuadorian opposition figure Luisa González was arrested on Thursday as part of an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the financing of her 2023 presidential campaign. The arrest took place in the rural town of Canuto in western Ecuador. González, a left‑wing politician and ally of former President Rafael Correa, lost the 2023 and 2025 presidential elections to right‑wing President Daniel Noboa.
The Attorney General’s Office said it had executed arrest warrants against three people suspected of money laundering. Seven individuals are under investigation for “inconsistencies in the contributions and the lawful source of the funds” used during the 2023 campaign. Investigators are examining a network of entities that allegedly channeled about $500,000 for campaign advertising between May and August 2023. The office alleges the money may have been transferred improperly, without disclosing the sources or the identities of contributors.
The probe, known as the Laberinto case, follows an earlier investigation into claims that money brought from Venezuela was used to finance González’s bid. González has denied any wrongdoing, calling the accusations “absurd” in a post on X and comparing her situation to that of a political prisoner. She urged supporters to unite for democracy in the face of what she calls a “Noboa dictatorship” and pledged to respond with the dignity of Ecuadorians.
Gabriela Rivadeneira, president of the Citizen Revolution Movement, and former President Correa both denounced the arrest as political persecution. Correa, who served as president from 2007 to 2017, wrote on X that the case was “persecution” and called for an end to the arrests.
González, a lawyer and former member of Ecuador’s National Assembly, had a contentious run‑off against Noboa in April 2025, which Noboa won with more than 55 percent of the vote. González rejected the results as fraudulent and demanded a recount. Noboa’s government has accused her movement of conspiring with criminal groups to plot attacks against the right‑wing leader. Since his re‑election last year, Noboa has cracked down on the opposition, and in March the Citizen Revolution Movement was suspended from participating in upcoming local elections scheduled for November 29.
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