Electoral propaganda in the presidential campaign of Xavier Hervas Mora, the tiktok candidate

Authors

María José Enríquez Cruz
Universidad San Francisco de Quito
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9418-4941
Gabriela Falconí Jaramillo
Universidad San Francisco de Quito
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0875-5550

Synopsis

This article analyzes the propaganda strategies used in the presidential campaign of Xavier Hervas Mora, candidate for the Democratic Left, a traditional political party in Ecuador. To this end, the study reviews the theory on propaganda analysis, electoral campaigns, and candidate image. These elements made it possible to develop a qualitative analytical model, which was then applied to the presidential campaign examined in this study. Based on the information collected, the content published on the candidate’s social media accounts, as well as on his website, was analyzed. The image analysis suggests that his popularity and the number of votes he obtained were the result of a digital strategy that resonated with young people.

Author Biographies

María José Enríquez Cruz, Universidad San Francisco de Quito

Professor at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, where she teaches Public Relations II, Social Marketing, and Communication Campaigns. She currently serves as Coordinator of the Communication Program and leads the Recicla Esperanza project. Her academic and research work focuses on organizational communication, political communication, and public relations. She holds a Ph.D. in Social Communication from the University of the Basque Country (EHU), a Master’s degree in Corporate Communication from the University of Barcelona, and a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Organizational Communication. She has published several academic articles and book chapters and is co-author of the book Theory and Practice of Public Relations (Jordi Xifra, María José Enríquez, and Darío Ramos).

Gabriela Falconí Jaramillo, Universidad San Francisco de Quito

Professor at Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), with more than twenty years of experience in teaching and academic management. She has worked as an academic editor, social issues activist, and campaign strategist for cause-driven initiatives. Within the Communication program, she has taught courses such as Public Relations, Public Speaking, and Social Marketing. She has participated as both speaker and organizer in various national and international academic events. She holds a Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Arts, Sciences and Communication (UNIACC), a Master’s degree in Journalism, Institutional and Corporate Communication from Complutense University of Madrid, and a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Languages for International Exchanges from Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador.

Downloads

Published

February 2, 2026

Categories