Xavier Hervas

{{Short description|Ecuadorian businessman and politician}}

{{family name hatnote|Hervas|Mora|lang=Spanish}}

File:Xavier Hervas en entrevista (cropped).png

Marcelo Xavier Hervas Mora (born 7 October 1972) is an Ecuadorian businessman and politician who unsuccessfully ran for President of Ecuador in the 2023 election. He previously ran for president in the 2021 election as the Democratic Left nominee, being eliminated in the first round. Hervas was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. He is president of the company NovaAlimentos SA.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/2020/11/20/nota/8056294/candidato-presidencia-elecciones-2021-xavier-hervas|title=Xavier Hervas, el empresario que vende millones y que de joven hizo pan|accessdate=2021-05-26|date=2020-11-23|publisher=El Universo|language=es}}

Hervas was also president of the engineering faculty at the University of La Sabana in Colombia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.elamazonico.com/?p=14283|title=Xavier Hervas: Me encantan TikTok y las redes porque me conectan con la gente|accessdate=2021-05-26|publisher=Elamazonico|language=es}} He is also a shareholder of the Metropolitan Hospital in Quito, one of the country's largest hospitals.

His 2021 presidential campaign was popular on social media such as TikTok for his progressive stance on legalizing abortion, marijuana and LGBTQ+ related issues.{{Cite web|url=https://www.primicias.ec/noticias/politica/aborto-oferta-presidenciables/|title=Aborto: ocho candidatos apoyan despenalización en casos de violación|accessdate=2021-05-26|publisher=Primicias|language=es-MX}} After being eliminated in the first round, he endorsed Guillermo Lasso in the run-off.{{Cite web|url=https://www.primicias.ec/noticias/politica/id-llama-orden-coqueteo-hervas-lasso/|title=La ID llama al orden a Hervas por su coqueteo con Lasso|accessdate=2021-05-26|publisher=Primicias|language=es-MX}} After Lasso assumed the presidency, he became one of his strongest critics.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pichinchacomunicaciones.com.ec/presidente-lasso-denuncia-que-xavier-hervas-intento-canjear-votos-de-la-id-a-cambio-de-que-le-perdonen-sus-impuestos/|title=Presidente Lasso denuncia que Xavier Hervas intentó canjear votos de la ID a cambio de que le "perdonen sus impuestos" - Radio Pichincha|accessdate=2022-08-08|date=2022-03-24|publisher=Pichincha Comunicaciones EP|language=es}}

In March 2022, President Lasso accused Hervas of blackmailing him in exchange for tax favors, a claim that Hervas denounced.{{Cite web|url=https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/politica/presidente-sri-investigue-xavier-hervas.html|title=Presidente pide al SRI y a la UAFE que investigue a Xavier Hervas|accessdate=2023-03-14|publisher=Primicias|language=es}}

In June 2023, Hervas officially became a presidential candidate for the 2023 election and was endorsed by the RETO Movement.{{cite web|url=https://www.lahora.com.ec/pais/binomio-presidencial-xavier-hervas-luz-marina-vega-queda-en-firme-cne-nego-objecion-de-la-revolucion-ciudadana/|title=Binomio presidencial Xavier Hervas-Luz Marina Vega queda en firme; CNE negó objeción de la Revolución Ciudadana|publisher=La Hora|accessdate=20 June 2023|date=19 June 2023|language=Spanish}} He was eliminated in the first round of the presidential election, receiving 0.49% of the vote.