Students Protest Fuel Subsidy Elimination in Quito
On September 16, 2025, hundreds of university students marched in Quito to oppose President Daniel Noboa’s recent decision to eliminate the diesel subsidy, a measure announced just days earlier. The protesters demanded Noboa’s ouster, asserting that the removal of the subsidy will increase their cost of living, reports 24brussels.
The demonstration, which began at the Central University of Ecuador (UCE), progressed through key streets in the historic center of Quito, with chants of “Noboa out” echoing among the participants.
Their aim was to reach the Carondelet Palace and take over Plaza Grande symbolically. However, police and military personnel barricaded streets with metal barriers to obstruct access. Tensions escalated as protesters hurled stones, leading to police deploying tear gas and stun grenades around 5:40 p.m. local time to disperse the crowd.
The march was organized in response to Decree 126, signed by Noboa on September 12, which abolished a diesel subsidy valued at USD 1.1 billion annually. Will Chuquimarca, a representative of the University Council, announced that protests and assemblies would continue until the decree is rescinded, warning that increased fuel prices would lead to greater costs for essential goods.
Prior to the diesel subsidy’s termination, President Noboa had already removed previous subsidies for Extra and Eco País gasoline, two of the most common fuels in Ecuador. This action marks a significant step in the gradual elimination of fuel subsidies—a move that past presidents Lenín Moreno and Guillermo Lasso had attempted but ultimately abandoned due to significant social unrest and large-scale protests led by the Indigenous movement.
The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie), the country’s largest social organization, has called for the repeal of Noboa’s latest measure and has hinted at the potential for renewed demonstrations in the days ahead.
As this situation unfolds, the political landscape in Ecuador remains tense, with rising public discontent over economic measures that many citizens feel disproportionately affect them, particularly students and low-income families.
