About 14 million Ecuadorans began voting under tight security, as they look forward to choosing who will lead their nation.

Local reports revealed that Sixteen candidates are vying to become president for a four-year term, including hawkish young incumbent Daniel Noboa and his leftist rival Luisa Gonzalez.

campaigns were dominated by concerns about a moribund economy and cartel turf wars that seems to have transformed Ecuador from one of the safest countries in the world into one of the most dangerous.

Reporters saw heavily armed soldiers standing watch at polling stations across the country as state emergency services cited “grave warnings” of an unspecified “possible attack against democracy” and election officials.

On the campaign trail both main candidates were shadowed by a phalanx of special forces and bodyguards, hoping to avoid a repeat of the 2023 election when a leading candidate was assassinated.