Opposition candidate Guillermo Lasso filed a complaint Wednesday challenging Ecuador election results that show he narrowly lost to President Rafael Correa’s handpicked successor. The former banker is demanding a recount of all votes cast in the election, repeating accusations of fraud and saying if Lenin Moreno takes power he will head an illegitimate government. “It’s necessary to be in the streets,” he told supporters at an event announcing the election challenge. Official results released Monday show Lasso lost to Lenin Moreno by less than three points. The election was closely watched in Latin America as an indicator of whether the region would continue to shift right after recent conservative candidate wins in countries including Peru and Argentina.
Correa has served as Ecuador’s president for more than 10 years and the country has been deeply divided on whether to continue his “Citizens’ Revolution.” In polls leading up to the election, a majority of Ecuadoreans said they were eager for change and frustrated with a staggered economy and Correa’s iron-fisted rule.
Hundreds of outraged Lasso supporters protested outside the electoral council’s headquarters on election night April 2nd. Some remained camped out until being removed by police Tuesday.
Lasso said Wednesday his campaign has presented evidence showing 4,200 irregular voting acts, “and that’s just what we’ve found so far, that’s why we’re asking for a review of 100 percent of the votes.”
Full Article: Ecuador opposition candidate challenges election results | Miami Herald.
