Candidates for President of the Republic Luisa González and Daniel Noboa showed mutual respect during the presidential debate on October 1. The same is not reflected on social networks, where users with first and last name or after anonymity are part of an aggressive verbal campaign and misinformation that does nothing good for the country.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, through the same social networks, Guayaquil Mayor Aquiles Alvarez announced that he had invited the two candidates to a formal meeting on October 9.

“We need manageability, we need to unite the country and open the door to every candidate, in this case two candidates for president,” said the head of the Council. A gesture of maturity and political awareness worth imitating and highlighting at a time when Ecuadorians at the polls – during the first round – reflected their tiredness of conflict and political violence.

The finalists of the second round understood the message of the voters and the debate in the second round was conducted according to respect for others, without sarcasm and political discourse.

It would be healthy if everyone started to act in harmony, putting the common good first. That old political practices should be archived in order to restore the much damaged trust and reputation, especially in the National Assembly, which must be completed on October 15 with elections abroad, annulled by the failures of telematic voting.

If two candidates accept the invitation of the municipality of Guayaquil, it will be a challenge for all participants to maintain the formality and solemnity of the event. It is even the mayor’s obligation to ensure this, given that Luisa González is a candidate of the same party that sponsored him, and Daniel Noboa is her opponent, but this is not a party political act, but a tribute to the city, which the council leader proposed as a gesture governance and unity for the benefit of Ecuador. (OR)