Ecuador’s Noboa Faces Crisis Amid Diesel Subsidy Cut—Is Authoritarian Rule the Answer?

Nearly three weeks into widespread protests across Ecuador, sparked by the government’s decision to slash diesel fuel subsidies, President Daniel Noboa finds himself at a crossroads—one that mirrors challenges the United States faces when leaders prioritize authoritarian control over dialogue. The unrest has left one protester dead, dozens injured, and more than 100 arrested, underscoring the dangerous consequences of top-down economic policies divorced from citizens’ real needs. When Government Overreach Sparks Resistance: Who Bears the Cost? Ecuador’s sudden increase of diesel prices—from $1.80 to $2.80 per gallon—may seem like an isolated economic adjustment on another continent. Yet this move strikes...