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Jan Topic, an economist and candidate for the presidency of Ecuador, is positioning himself as the only candidate capable of combating the country’s cocaine cartels. With rising crime rates as a major concern for voters, Topic’s background, which includes studying at the University of Pennsylvania, combat experience in Africa, Ukraine, and Syria, and a pledge to take down crime bosses, has made him a leading contender in the upcoming August 20th election.

In recent years, Ecuador has experienced a surge in violence due to rival drug cartels, transforming the country from a relatively peaceful corner of South America into one of the most violent places in the world. Car bombs, contract killings, and prison massacres have become increasingly common.

Topic, 40, comes from a wealthy background and has been involved in running Telconect, one of Ecuador’s largest telecommunications firms. While he has not provided detailed information about his economic plan, he has expressed support for private businesses and believes that the deficit should be reduced.

According to Topic’s campaign team, he served with the French Foreign Legion and has training as a sniper and a parachutist. He has been deployed in various conflict zones, including the Central African Republic, the Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Eritrea, Syria during the civil war in 2012, and Ukraine in 2022. However, the exact nature of his role in these conflicts is unclear.

Despite rumors of a potential top security position in the government, Topic’s martial background has gained public attention. However, he denies accusations of being a mercenary and prefers to be called a “professional soldier,” emphasizing that his motivation to fight is based on ideology and conviction rather than money.

The current frontrunner in the polls is socialist candidate Luisa González, who is closely associated with former president Rafael Correa. Other contenders for a potential runoff election include former vice president Otto Sonnenholzner, anti-mining candidate Yaku Perez, and Christian Zurita, who replaced Fernando Villavicencio after his assassination.

Topic’s campaign aims to tackle crime in Ecuador by taking inspiration from El Salvador President Nayib Bukele’s successful efforts in reducing crime rates. He has expressed admiration for Bukele’s ability to cut crime by 30% to 40% in his first year in power.

As the election approaches, the competition is heating up, with voters looking for a candidate who can effectively address the pressing issue of crime in Ecuador.

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