Ecuador appears to go with conservative banker Guillermo Lasso in presidential vote
3 years, 8 months ago

Ecuador appears to go with conservative banker Guillermo Lasso in presidential vote

LA Times  

With most of the votes counted, Guillermo Lasso, a former banker, had a lead over economist Andres Arauz, a protégé of former President Rafael Correa, in Ecuador’s presidential election. A conservative businessman seemed headed to Ecuador’s presidency, with voters rejecting the leftist movement started by former President Rafael Correa more than a decade ago, while in neighboring Peru, a crowded field of 18 presidential candidates was virtually certain to result in a second round of voting in June. The Electoral Council in Ecuador had not declared an official winner in the contest to replace President Lenín Moreno next month, but results released by the agency showed former banker Guillermo Lasso with about 53% of votes and leftist Andrés Arauz at 47%, with more than 93% of votes counted. The new president’s main task will be “to de-polarize the country,” said Grace M. Jaramillo, an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia whose research includes Latin America.

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History of this topic

No ‘clear way out’: How Ecuador descended into gang violence
10 months, 1 week ago

No ‘clear way out’: How Ecuador descended into gang violence

Al Jazeera  

Experts trace the root causes of Ecuador’s spiralling violence, as President Daniel Noboa leads a crackdown on gangs. “Ecuador is a small country in a violent neighbourhood, and it’s become a key part of global narco-trafficking networks,” said Will Freeman, a fellow for Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, a US-based think tank. As Ecuador’s prominence in …

Daniel Noboa is sworn in as Ecuador’s president, inheriting the leadership of a country on edge
1 year, 1 month ago

Daniel Noboa is sworn in as Ecuador’s president, inheriting the leadership of a country on edge

Associated Press  

QUITO, Ecuador — Daniel Noboa, an inexperienced politician and heir to a fortune built on the banana trade, was sworn in Thursday as Ecuador’s president, a role that citizens are demanding he uses to restore the public safety that drug cartels and other criminal organizations robbed them of at the decade’s start. He is inheriting a weakened economy and serious …

How will the deaths of high-profile murder suspects tip Ecuador’s election?
1 year, 2 months ago

How will the deaths of high-profile murder suspects tip Ecuador’s election?

Al Jazeera  

Seven suspects in the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio have died in prison this month. “All the were Colombian nationals and were charged with the assassination of ex-presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio,” SNAI said in its press release. “If anything happens, they change their minds.” A tight election Maluk believes the fallout from the seven killings could weigh heavily on …

Six Colombians arrested over assassination of Ecuador presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio
1 year, 4 months ago

Six Colombians arrested over assassination of Ecuador presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio

ABC  

The six men arrested as suspects in the assassination of an anti-corruption Ecuadorian presidential candidate are Colombian nationals, according to a police report. Key points: Fernando Villavicencio was assassinated while campaigning in Quito on Wednesday The police report does not say if the arrested men are alleged members of a criminal group Mr Villavicencio received at least three death threats …

Ecuador presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio assassinated ahead of elections
1 year, 4 months ago

Ecuador presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio assassinated ahead of elections

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando …

How world reacted to Ecuador presidential candidate Villavicencio’s killing
1 year, 4 months ago

How world reacted to Ecuador presidential candidate Villavicencio’s killing

Al Jazeera  

The killing of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has sent shockwaves across the South American nation and the world, prompting an outpouring of grief and calls to tackle rising violence. Mexico Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it “regret the acts of violence that occurred in Quito” and expressed its “solidarity with the Ecuadorian government and people”. “We condemn any …

Ecuador’s president declines to run in snap elections after he disbands National Assembly
1 year, 6 months ago

Ecuador’s president declines to run in snap elections after he disbands National Assembly

Associated Press  

QUITO, Ecuador — Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso said Friday he will not seek reelection in the early elections prompted by his decision to dissolve the National Assembly two weeks ago. Without fear and with a clear conscience.” Lasso, a conservative former banker, was elected in 2021 on a business-friendly platform and clashed from the start with the left-leaning majority coalition …

Ecuador’s embattled President Lasso will not seek re-election
1 year, 6 months ago

Ecuador’s embattled President Lasso will not seek re-election

Al Jazeera  

Guillermo Lasso’s announcement comes weeks after he dissolved the legislature amid prospect of impeachment. Ecuadorean President Guillermo Lasso, who dissolved the country’s National Assembly last month amid an impeachment process against him, has announced that he will not run in early elections set for August. “I want to be clear I will not accept the nomination as a candidate for …

Opinion: What happened to Ecuador? How crime and power struggles brought a democracy to the brink
1 year, 7 months ago

Opinion: What happened to Ecuador? How crime and power struggles brought a democracy to the brink

LA Times  

Soldiers guard the National Assembly in Quito, Ecuador. Ecuador’s president, Guillermo Lasso, dissolved the country’s legislature Wednesday to dodge an impeachment vote he appeared bound to lose. Shutting down the National Assembly is likely to stoke instability and, paradoxically, hasten the return to power of Lasso’s sworn enemies: Rafael Correa, the strongman who served as president for a decade ending …

Stage set for Ecuadorian president or lawmakers to be booted out of office
1 year, 7 months ago

Stage set for Ecuadorian president or lawmakers to be booted out of office

Associated Press  

QUITO, Ecuador — Ecuador was locked in a showdown Tuesday between its conservative president and its opposition-led legislature that was turning the country into the latest Latin American nation torn between rival constitutional powers. People feel the government is “totally disconnected from their most urgent needs,” said Laura Lizarazo, a senior analyst covering Ecuador and Colombia for the global firm …

Impeachment hearing begins in Ecuador against President Lasso
1 year, 7 months ago

Impeachment hearing begins in Ecuador against President Lasso

Al Jazeera  

Lasso could trigger the ‘two-way death’ clause in Ecuador’s constitution, dissolving both the legislature and ending his presidency. Ecuador’s National Assembly has begun an impeachment hearing against President Guillermo Lasso, who stands accused of corruption with regard to an embezzlement scheme involving a state-owned oil transport company. Experts have speculated that Lasso could invoke a never-before-used constitutional clause known as …

Ecuador is in trouble and its president may pay the price
1 year, 7 months ago

Ecuador is in trouble and its president may pay the price

CNN  

CNN — Ecuador was known as the “isla de paz” – an island of peace – in the 1980s, when compared to its neighbors Colombia and Peru, some of the world’s biggest producers of cocaine. Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso is at the center of this storm, and his popularity has tanked amid widespread discontent with spiraling crime rates. Before President …

In Ecuador, the US risks being on the wrong side of history
1 year, 9 months ago

In Ecuador, the US risks being on the wrong side of history

Al Jazeera  

In the nearly two years since Guillermo Lasso, a millionaire and conservative banker, won the presidency in Ecuador, the region has changed considerably. In December 2021, Michael Fitzpatrick, the US ambassador to Ecuador, publicly denounced the country’s “narco generals”, though it did little to dampen enthusiasm in Washington for the new administration. Lasso has also sought to publicly intimidate the …

Ecuador’s President Lasso accepts extradition referendum defeat
1 year, 10 months ago

Ecuador’s President Lasso accepts extradition referendum defeat

Al Jazeera  

Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso has accepted defeat in a referendum on allowing extradition for organised crime, among other reforms, but added he would continue to fight drug trafficking and keep working to improve social conditions. “I accept that the majority doesn’t agree that these issues would be resolved with the tools put up for consideration in the referendum,” Lasso said …

Ecuador president declares state of emergency over drug violence
3 years, 2 months ago

Ecuador president declares state of emergency over drug violence

Al Jazeera  

President Guillermo Lasso orders the mobilisation of police and military in the streets as he struggles to curb drug-related violence. Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso has declared a state of emergency as the country grapples with a surge in drug-related violence, and ordered the police and military onto the streets. “In the streets of Ecuador there is only one enemy: drug …

Ecuador swears in conservative president amid economic crisis
3 years, 7 months ago

Ecuador swears in conservative president amid economic crisis

Al Jazeera  

Guillermo Lasso says he will promote new private sector investment and vaccinate 9 million people against COVID-19 in his first 100 days. Conservative Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso took office on Monday promising to revive an economy battered by the coronavirus pandemic and create jobs for a population weary from years of painful austerity measures. “Ecuador must also mean a promise …

Guillermo Lasso | A victor of circumstances
3 years, 8 months ago

Guillermo Lasso | A victor of circumstances

The Hindu  

In a turnaround of sorts, Guillermo Lasso became the President-elect of Ecuador following a run-off second round vote in presidential elections in the Latin American country. In the first round, not only was his vote share some distance behind Mr. Arauz’s, but it was also barely more than that of third place candidate Yaku Perez of the indigenous coalition Pachakutik. …

Banker Lasso wins surprise victory in Ecuador election
3 years, 8 months ago

Banker Lasso wins surprise victory in Ecuador election

Al Jazeera  

Ecuadoreans went to the polls with the pandemic pushing a third of people into poverty. Former banker Guillermo Lasso has declared victory in the Ecuadorean presidential election, after his challenger, left-wing economist Andres Arauz, conceded defeat in a poll that took place against a COVID-19 pandemic that has devastated an already struggling economy. “It’s a day in which all Ecuadoreans …

Ecuador’s president-elect Lasso promises ‘better days are coming’
3 years, 8 months ago

Ecuador’s president-elect Lasso promises ‘better days are coming’

Al Jazeera  

Conservative former banker Guillermo Lasso won a surprise victory in polls that came amid COVID and economic crises. Ecuador’s new president-elect Guillermo Lasso has promised to unite the country, hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and a related economic crisis, just hours after the conservative former banker won an unexpected victory at the polls. 🙏🏼🇪🇨 pic.twitter.com/FEiNAFXdlm — Guillermo Lasso 🇪🇨 April …

How youth, women could decide Ecuador’s next president
3 years, 9 months ago

How youth, women could decide Ecuador’s next president

Al Jazeera  

Two presidential candidates, Andres Arauz and Guillermo Lasso, begin final stretch of campaigning on Tuesday ahead of April runoff. Quito, Ecuador – Ecuador’s two final presidential hopefuls are beginning the last stretch of the official election campaign on Tuesday, only weeks before voters return to the polls for an April 11 runoff. Arauz secured 32.72 percent support in last month’s …

Ecuador’s outgoing president urges quick and accurate vote count
3 years, 10 months ago

Ecuador’s outgoing president urges quick and accurate vote count

Al Jazeera  

Uncertainty persists days after presidential election over second candidate who will participate in an April runoff. The outgoing president of Ecuador has urged the country’s National Electoral Council to deliver accurate election results quickly, as uncertainty persists over the second candidate who will participate in an April runoff. Indigenous environmental activist Yaku Perez is narrowly clinging onto second place with …

Polls close in Ecuador’s tight presidential election
3 years, 10 months ago

Polls close in Ecuador’s tight presidential election

Al Jazeera  

Polls have closed in Ecuador after voters headed out in large numbers to pick a new president in an election held under the shadow of a severe economic crisis and discontent over the handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Sunday’s vote will see the South American nation’s 13.1 million voters choose a successor to unpopular socialist President Lenin Moreno, as well …

Ecuador to vote amid economic crisis and widespread discontent
3 years, 10 months ago

Ecuador to vote amid economic crisis and widespread discontent

Al Jazeera  

Economy and handling of COVID-19 pandemic figure largely on minds of voters ahead of February 7 presidential polls. Quito, Ecuador – Ecuadorians will head to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president amid widespread discontent over the country’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, an economic crisis worsened by COVID-19, and several corruption scandals. “The political debate is centred …

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