Ecuador judge orders pre-trial detention of leftist presidential candidate

Luisa Gonzalez, who lost to right-wing president Daniel Noboa in 2023, has called the arrest political persecution.Published On 23 Oct 202623 Oct 2026A judge in Ecuador has ordered that former left-wing presidential candidate Luisa Gonzalez remain detained following her arrest for alleged money laundering.The order on Friday came the day after 48-year-old Gonzalez, who challenged right-wing President Daniel Noboa in the 2023 election, was arrested in the rural town of Canuto.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Marco Rubio says US seeks more economic and security ties in Latin Americalist 2 of 3US removes Venezuela from drug list, Trump sayslist 3 of 3Colombia extradites leader of armed group to US in shift towards Washingtonend of listGonzalez, her party and her close ally, former President Rafael Correa, have called the arrest political persecution.Several other members of Gonzalez’s Citizen Revolution (RC) party have also recently faced charges.They include Guayaquil Mayor Aquiles Alvarez, convicted of illegally selling subsidised fuel and former Vice President Jorge Glas, serving a sentence for corruption.Prosecutors have said that Gonzalez is one of seven people under...