Ecuador

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — 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. And in neighboring Peru, a crowded field of 18 presidential candidates was virtually certain to result in a second round of voting in June.

The South American nations held elections Sunday under strict public health measures amid a recent spike in COVID-19 cases and the return of lockdowns. Peruvians also elected a new Congress.

QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuadoreans will vote in a presidential runoff on Sunday to decide whether to maintain the pro-market policies of the last four years or return to the socialism of the preceding decade as the Andean country seeks to revive its stagnant economy.

Left-wing economist Andres Arauz won the first round of the election in February, garnering almost 33% of the vote, on promises of generous cash handouts and a resumption of the socialist policies of his mentor, former President Rafael Correa.

QUITO, April 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ecuadoreans on Sunday will choose between a conservative banker and a left-wing economist in a presidential runoff that follows months of debate over whether the country’s economic malaise can be best treated through socialism or market-friendly policies.

Polls broadly indicate socialist Andres Arauz, a protege of former President Rafael Correa, with a lead over rival Guillermo Lasso, with many showing a quarter or more of the electorate either undecided or planning to spoil their ballot.

QUITO, March 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ecuador investigators raided the health ministry on Wednesday as part of a probe into influence peddling against former health minister Juan Carlos Zevallos.

Zevallos resigned last month over a vaccine scandal that saw well-connected individuals, including his mother, jump the queue for their coronavirus jabs.

“In the operation, information is being collected on the vaccination plan and the list of beneficiaries” of immunisation against COVID-19, the public prosecutor’s office said on Twitter.

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Sixty-two inmates have died in riots at prisons in three cities in Ecuador as a result of fights between rival gangs and an escape attempt, authorities said Tuesday.

Prisons Director Edmundo Moncayo said in a news conference that 800 police offices have been helping to regain control of the facilities. Hundreds of officers from tactical units had been deployed since the clashes broke out late Monday.

QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuador’s election authority said on Friday it will conduct a recount in most of the country to ensure the transparency of Sunday’s presidential elections, after one of the candidates made accusations of electoral fraud.

Left-wing economist Andres Arauz won Sunday’s vote and moved on to the April 11 runoff vote. With less than 1% of votes left to count, Guillermo Lasso holds a narrow lead over indigenous activist Yaku Perez in the race for runner-up.

QUITO, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Progressive candidate Andres Arauz and indigenous leader Yaku Perez are leading in Ecuador's presidential election, the official quick count released by the National Electoral Council (CNE) showed late Sunday.

The results were announced by the president of the CNE, Diana Atamaint, four hours after the voting ended in the country.

The CNE quick count showed Arauz of the Union for Hope Alliance had won 31.5 percent of the votes, and Perez representing the Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement had won 20.04 percent of the votes.

QUITO, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ecuador is ready to go to the polls on Sunday to elect a successor to President Lenin Moreno and legislative members of the National Assembly (Congress) amid the coronavirus pandemic, the country’s National Electoral Council (CNE) announced.

QUITO, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador is unlikely to reimpose a nationwide lockdown despite an increasing COVID-19 infection rate, said Vice Minister of Health Xavier Solorzano on Sunday.

His remarks came the same day as a state of emergency imposed since Dec. 21 was declared unconstitutional.

The 30-day state of emergency, which included a daily curfew and restrictions on mobility, drinking and hospitality industry, could have a strong adverse effect on the economy as well as people's mental health, Solorzano said in a television interview.

QUITO, Nov 19 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) – An illegal coal mine collapsed in a landslide, in north-western Ecuador, killing at least three people, the country’s disaster relief agency said today.

Three people were rescued, and another two are still missing, said the National Risk and Emergency Management Service.

The collapse happened at around 3.00 p.m. local time (2000 GMT) yesterday, in the Esmeraldas province, near the border with Colombia.

Local media reported that, the accident resulted from excavations in an illegal mine, that caused a landslide.