Daniela Chacón Arias, executive director at Fundación TANDEM and former Quito vice mayor and city council member: “Ecuadoreans recently learned that there are 17 presidential tickets for next February’s election. While political parties can form alliances, it is likely that this number will not decrease substantially. The country’s current party system promotes fragmentation, and the creation of ‘for hire parties,’ that is, political parties without party structure, territorial bases, ideology or political agendas that are offered to the highest bidder. These parties survive on the few but sufficient votes they can obtain to negotiate political agreements and concessions that further weaken the system. In this scenario, without major changes since the 2023 election, Ecuadoreans will once again see Daniel Noboa and Luisa González on the ballot. They remain the main contenders, although a third candidate could provide a surprise, just as Noboa did previously. Surprises in Ecuador are quite likely. The Citizen Revolution party is betting on the safe choice: a candidate loyal to Rafael Correa, rather than someone who…”