Since the gang leader went missing, the country has experienced prison riots and kidnappings, and the president declared a nationwide state of emergency.
Outsiders overperformed, underscoring the volatility of Latin American politics. Candidates calling to emulate El Salvador’s crackdown on crime did not do well.
Luisa González and Daniel Noboa were poised to be the top candidates of Sunday’s election in a country where declining security has been the leading issue for most voters.