Provincial parties in the 2023 legislative elections in Ecuador

Abstract

A significant portion of political parties competing in the 2023 legislative elections in Ecuador can be considered as provincial parties, i.e., as parties that compete and obtain votes in only one province. Provincial parties have a large impact on both national and sub-national politics and are capable of attracting important vote shares. Based on an empirical analysis of all political parties competing for the provincial seats in the Ecuadorian legislative elections of 2017-2023, this article aims at understanding the electoral performance of provincial parties. It observes that – compared to national parties – provincial parties receive an electoral bonus in legislative elections. This is particularly true for provincial parties participating to alliance with at least one national party, indicating that national parties have in interest in forging alliances with provincial parties. The article concludes by calling for further research on provincial parties in Ecuador, and in particular their ideology and electoral strategies.