"Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Ecuador’s Guayaquil on Monday after President Daniel Noboa announced the removal of the diesel subsidy. Demonstrators warned the measure would drive up the cost of living in a country already struggling with economic hardship and widespread criminal violence. Footage shows protesters marching through the city center with flags and labor union banners, chanting slogans such as ‘Out with Noboa, out’ and ‘When diesel goes up, everything goes up’. Noboa signed the decree on September 12, raising the price of diesel from $1.80 to $2.80 per gallon. The government defended the move, arguing that the subsidy cost the state about $1.1 billion annually and fueled smuggling, illegal mining, and other illicit activities. "The elimination of diesel subsidies logically leads to a series of increases in all foodstuffs that need to be transported in vehicles on the countrys roads," said Fabian Macias, a neighborhood representative who took part in the protest. To ease the transition, the government pledged temporary compensation for more than 23,000 transport operators, offering monthly payments between $400 and $1,000 for eight months, starting September 15. However, sectors such as heavy transport and agriculture were excluded from the scheme. "He is totally wrong because he is making compensations for the transport operators, quote organized unquote, or for the transport leadership. But for the farmer who leaves his house to move a tractor to plant rice or harvest corn, in what way is he given compensation?," declared Rafael Navarrete, representative of the farmers. Noboa’s administration framed the subsidy cut as part of a wider economic plan to reduce Ecuador’s fiscal deficit, which stood at nearly 5 percent of GDP in 2023. The reform is also linked to the government’s $5 billion credit program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), running through 2028. Unions have vowed to continue street demonstrations indefinitely until the government reverses its decision."