A judge in Ecuador ordered pre-trial detention for former presidential candidate Luisa Gonzalez over money laundering allegations.
A judge in Ecuador ordered pre-trial detention for Luisa Gonzalez. Authorities arrested the former presidential candidate on charges of money laundering.
Next, the court issued this order on Friday. This happened one day after police arrested the 48-year-old politician in Canuto.
Also, Gonzalez previously challenged President Daniel Noboa during the 2023 election. She worked as a lawyer and served in the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, Gonzalez and her allies claim the arrest is political persecution. Her party and former President Rafael Correa strongly oppose these legal actions.
Additionally, prosecutors currently investigate seven different people regarding campaign finances. The probe examines $500,000 spent on advertising during the 2023 race.
However, Gonzalez denies any illegal activity. She publicly called the accusations against her absurd.
Furthermore, other members of the Citizen Revolution party face legal trouble too. For instance, authorities convicted Guayaquil Mayor Aquiles Alvarez of illegal fuel sales.
After that, former Vice President Jorge Glas also entered prison. He currently serves a sentence for corruption charges.
As a result, party leader Gabriela Rivadeneira spoke at a recent news conference. She claimed that these arrests prove the country lives under a dictatorship.
Still, political tensions remain high between the parties. Gonzalez lost the 2025 run-off election to Noboa and rejected the results.
Finally, President Noboa accused the Citizen Revolution party of plotting attacks against him. Officials have since banned the party from participating in upcoming local elections.