QUITO – Leftist economist Andres Arauz claimed “a resounding victory” as exit polls predicted he would face right-wing ex-banker Guillermo Lasso in a runoff after polls closed yesterday in Ecuador’s general election.
The vote was marred by long lines of people waiting to cast ballots as coronavirus restrictions caused chaos.
Two exit polls showed Arauz had topped the vote with 34.9% to 36.2% ahead of Lasso on 21% to 21.7%.
To win outright, a candidate needs 50% plus one vote or 40% and a 10-point lead over the nearest rival.
Arauz, 35, is a protege of former president Rafael Correa, who currently lives in Belgium, where his wife was born, evading a conviction for corruption.
“Resounding victory in all regions of our beautiful country. Our victory is 2 to 1 ahead of the banker,” Arauz wrote on Twitter, although he urged supporters to wait for “official results before celebrating” his success.
The first results are due to be published on Sunday night.
The vote took place amid a backdrop of economic problems exacerbated by a second, deadly wave of the coronavirus pandemic that has swept Latin America.
Many voters arrived wearing face masks in a nation where the pandemic has claimed 15,000 lives and infected more than 257,000 amongst a 17.4 million population.
The country’s 13.1 million voters were choosing a successor to unpopular socialist President Lenin Moreno and the 137 members of the unicameral congress.
Exit polls show indigenous rights campaigner Yaku Perez finishing third with 16.7% to 18% in a congested field of 16 candidates, including Ximena Pena, the only woman.
Strict health precautions appeared to slow voting, and may have discouraged some from casting their ballots as long lines stretched outside polling stations.
Election official Enrique Pita told local media that instructions were given by the authorities of the National Electoral Council to relax restrictions “to allow the lines to advance”. – AFP, February 8, 2021
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