That a candidate goes viral on social networks after a debate is not everything, say experts

It was the image of a Barbie doll with a phrase “Oh no, what stress.” This is in reference to the fact that the candidate for re-election for the Guayas Prefecture, Susana Gonzalezfrom the Social Cristiano-Madera de Guerrero Party (PSC-MG), lists 6-75, during the debate preferred, on several occasions, Do not ask questions or answer those of your opponents.

This is just one meme of so many that appear on the social network Twitter, which caused the applicant to be on the list of trends. Other of the most mentioned applicants was Paola Pabonfor Revolución Ciudadana, list 5, also up for re-election, but from the Pichincha Prefecture. She was confronted by the other candidatesbut he did answer.

The members of the boards receiving the vote will be in the electoral precincts for up to 16 hours this February 5, 2023

On social networks, she generated positive and negative messages, such as applauding her performance and others calling her “disastrous.” There were no memes about her, but there were about the debate that summarized it as the Simpsons scene when they are attached to an electric chair.

According to experts, becoming a meme or going viral can be positive, but also negative. In the case of González and Pabón, to Pedro Donoso, general director of the private consultancy Icare, there were different fates. This weekend there will be a new round of debates, this time for mayoral candidates from cantons with more than 100,000 inhabitants.

“It is that the candidates must prepare for a debate, with methodology. The objective is that you can demystify the myths that the rest of the candidates are going to build around you, which is what happens in the cases of Pabón and González, but with different luck. I do believe that Pabón had more ability to demystify the accusations, but González wasted his time, he did not demystify and she did not even take advantage of the platform to position what she has done and what she is going to do, I think she was very stingy with the opportunity”, says Donoso.

An “evasive” Susana González or a “disastrous” Paola Pabón were some of the criticisms of the candidates on social networks during the debate

Estefanía Luzuriaga, research professor at Casa Grande Universityconsiders that the González case is demonstrating and making manifest the reaction that users of social networks have with the behavior of the candidate in the debate.

And that’s why they become trends because there was no political guideline, says Esteban Ron, dean of the Faculty of Social and Legal Sciences at UISEK. In these types of spaces can be interpreted as disrespect and even ignorance”, he points out.

Last Sunday, the debates were held in the prefectures of Azuay, Imbabura, Bolívar, Loja, Cañar, Los Ríos, Carchi, Manabí, Cotopaxi, Pichincha, Chimborazo, Tungurahua, El Oro, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Esmeraldas, Guayas and Santa Elena. The participants are from the towns that have more than 100,000 voters for the next elections.

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These meetings are mandatory since the reforms to the Code of Democracyin force since February 2020, which included the organization of these acts, which were conceptualized as “forms of public discussion in which candidates for dignity contrast their government programs and programmatic proposals, submitting to the questioning of their rivals.” , moderators and citizenship”.

Of the debates, which were broadcast by television channels and the media through their digital platforms, the public also participated. For example, on TikTok they posted excerpts from the debatesthe same happened on Twitter and Facebook, expanding that display, questions, constructive criticism and even clarifications.

Crossroads of criticism in the debate of the candidates for the Prefecture of Azuay

For example, Ecuador Chequea replied to Pabón’s statements about that “Lasso reduced 17% of police officers in Pichincha. This initiative, which detects misinformation, said that Pabón’s assertions are false. “According to official figures, in 2022, the province had a 4% decrease in police officers compared to 2021 and not 17%, as Pabón stated. And by 2023, the number of police officers increased by 21%.

So, viralization or increased exposure is not always positive. “The campaign time is so short, that in the long run, if you go viral for something negative, it affects the voting process, because it’s only one day. It is not going viral for the sake of going viral, but you do need to improve your visibility and with that begin to build credibility”, comments the political analyst Donoso.

Instead, Luzuriaga believes that it is positive because it generates more conversation. “And it contributes to the debate between digital communities. (Although) a meme is a questioning of symbolic power and seeks to attack or ridicule the devirtualities of those in power using humor”, he indicates.

What will happen to the tracks? This was answered by candidates for the Guayas Prefecture

Ron considers that the viralization of images or memes “does not contribute anythingsince what is expected is that the campaign proposals will become government effects and even a governance technique”.

On January 14 and 15, the mayoral debates will be held and 213 candidates will participate in Esmeraldas (Esmeraldas); Portoviejo, Manta and Chone (Manabí); Saint Helena (Saint Helena); Babahoyo and Quevedo (Los Ríos); Cuenca (Azuay); Machala (The Gold); Loja (Loja); Guayaquil, Milagro, Daule and Durán (Guayas).

In Riobamba (Chimborazo); in Ambato (Tungurahua); in Latacunga (Cotopaxi); Ibarra and Otavalo (Imbabura); Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas); and, in Quito (Pichincha). (YO)