Ecuador election recount after Perez points the finger
February 13, 2021
Ecuador's top electoral body on Friday authorized a partial recount of the country's presidential election following a request from two of the candidates.
Left-wing economist Andres Arauz won Sunday's vote, but after two of his potential rivals in April's run-off came to an agreement, a recount will be required in large parts of the South American country.
Environmental lawyer Yaku Perez, 51, and right-wing ex-banker Guillermo Lasso, 65, made the request earlier on Friday after a tight finish in the battle to face Arauz on April 11.
National Electoral Council (CNE) president Diana Atamaint said there would be "a recount of 100% of the votes in the Guayas province," which is the most populous in the country, "and 50% in 16 provinces."
"Once the recount process is finished there will be a definitive statement on the results," she added.
Too close to call between Perez and Lasso
With 99.99% of the votes counted by Friday, Perez had been given a 19.38% share, a fraction behind conservative Lasso who got 19.74%.
Arauz, a 36-year-old protege of former socialist president Rafael Correa, won with 32.7% of the national vote, though well short of the requirement for outright victory in the first round.
Perez, an indigenous leader who claims there was wrongdoing during the ballot, said a recount would offer a chance "to demonstrate to the country that there is no fraud, that the electoral process was transparent."
Hundreds of indigenous Ecuadorans rallied in support of their candidate on Thursday.
Lasso said he backed Perez's proposal.
Incumbent President Lenin Moreno's term in office ends on May 24 after he declined to seek reelection.
jsi/sms (Reuters, AFP, dpa)