Recently, leaders have been chosen in several countries around the world. Today, NFK looks at election results from Germany, Ecuador, and Gabon.
Friedrich Merz to Lead Germany
Germany held an election for its Bundestag (lower house of parliament) in late February. The Christian Democrats (CDU), won the election, making it likely that CDU leader Friedrich Merz would become Germany’s next chancellor. Last week, the CDU reached an agreement to form a coalition government with the Social Democrats (SPD). Mr. Merz is expected to be officially named chancellor in early May.
Germany’s Chancellor
The job of chancellor in Germany is similar to the prime minister’s position in many other countries. Germany also has a president, but the chancellor is the leader of the government and the country.
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The Christian Democrats (CDU), won February’s election, making it likely that CDU leader Friedrich Merz would become Germany’s next chancellor. Above, Friedrich Merz (right), leader of the CDU, is seen with Lars Klingbeil, the leader of the SPD, after the two reached an agreement to form a coalition government.
The SPD, led by Olaf Scholz, won the last election. But in February’s elections, the SD came in third, behind the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AFD). No other parties will form a coalition with AFD, because of the party’s extreme positions.
Mr. Scholz is still acting as chancellor, but has limited powers. There’s been a lot of pressure to form a government quickly so Germany would have a real leader. The political situation in Europe has changed greatly since US President Donald Trump took office. Europe’s close relationship with the US is more and more uncertain. And Ukraine is now counting on Europe for support against Russia’s continuing attacks.
As chancellor, Mr. Merz will face these and many other challenges.
Daniel Noboa Wins Ecuador’s Runoff Election
On Sunday, Daniel Noboa won a runoff election for president of Ecuador. Mr. Noboa won roughly 56% of the votes;- his opponent, Luisa González, took 44%. Ms. González says she doesn’t accept the results, but Mr. Noboa said, “There is no doubt who the winner is.”
Mr. Noboa, 37, has been president since 2023, when he won an election after Ex-President Guillermo Lasso stepped down early.
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On Sunday, Daniel Noboa won a runoff election for president of Ecuador. Mr. Noboa won roughly 56% of the votes;- his opponent, Luisa González, took 44%. Ms. González says she doesn’t accept the results, but Mr. Noboa said, “There is no doubt who the winner is.” Above, Mr. Noboa speaking at a rally on Sunday.
In recent years, Ecuador has struggled as drug-selling gangs from other countries have moved into the country. Violence has greatly increased. As president, Mr. Noboa promised to be tough on gangs. At times, he has used Ecuador’s military to keep watch on the streets and in prisons. But the violence hasn’t dropped much.
Mr. Noboa has called for foreign armies from the US and Europe to come to Ecuador to help fight the gangs. Currently, the country’s constitution doesn’t allow this.
Some people worry that Mr. Noboa may not always follow the country’s rules. They’re concerned about the ways that he used the military and ignored some human rights problems during his first term.
General Brice Oligui Nguema Wins Gabon Election
On Sunday, voters in Gabon elected General Brice Oligui Nguema as the country’s next president. General Nguema, who led a coup that removed the country’s last president, won over 90% of the vote. Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze, who used to be Gabon’s prime minister, took just 3% of the vote.
Gabon is a small country in Central Africa. It’s rich in oil and minerals, but most of its people are poor. Over 40% of Gabon’s young people don’t have jobs.
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On Sunday, voters in Gabon elected General Brice Oligui Nguema as the country’s next president. General Nguema, who led a coup that removed the country’s last president, won over 90% of the vote. Above, General Nguema (fist raised) celebrates with his wife Zita Nyangue Oligui Nguema, after winning the election.
In 2023, General Nguema led a coup that removed Gabon’s president, Ali Bongo Ondimba. The coup brought an end to a political family that had been in power for over 50 years.
At the time, General Nguema said he would give up power and hold elections. Soon afterward, he changed the country’s rules, so he could run for office.
Mr. Bilie-By-Nze said the election had not been fair, but he conceded that General Nguema won.
(Front page image sources: Merz: Sandro Halank [CC BY-SA 4.0], Noboa: Presidencia de la República del Ecuador, Nguema: Freddie Everett/US Dept. of State, all via Wikimedia Commons.)