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Conservative Guillermo Lasso Wins Historic Presidential Elections In Ecuador

El candidato presidencial Guillermo Lasso  - El American

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The right-wing candidate, Guillermo Lasso, was declared as the winner of this Sunday’s presidential in Ecuador when the counting of 97.22% of the votes granted him a difference of 5.03 points over his socialist rival Andrés Arauz.

“This is a historic day, a day in which all Ecuadorians have decided their future, have expressed with their vote the need for change and the desire for better days for all,” he said before his supporters gathered in Guayaquil, in the southwest of the country.

In his third bid for the Presidency, Lasso obtained 52.51% in this Sunday’s ballot, against 47.49% of his rival, according to the partial official results of the National Electoral Council (CNE).

Lasso thanked God for the victory, his family, as well as Alfredo Borrero, his running mate, “today vice-president elect of Ecuador”, he said, although the CNE had not yet officially pronounced on the results.

He also thanked Jaime Nebot, leader of the Social Christian party, who supported him for these presidential elections, the third in which he participates as the highest authority of the Creando Oportunidades (CREO) movement, a liberal-leaning formation he created in 2012.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me the opportunity to be your president and to be able to serve you”, he said before his followers in Guayaquil and pointed out that, from next May 24, they will assume with responsibility the “challenge of changing the country”.

Lasso’s followers have come out to celebrate in front of the CNE headquarters in Quito, and also in the cantons of the province of Guayas where he accumulates part of his political strength.

In the sector of Samborondón, dozens of sympathizers gathered with blue and white flags of the CREO movement and those of Ecuador, in an early celebration.

Meanwhile, in the area where Arauz’s followers were gathered, in Quito, people gradually withdrew, and the headquarters of the movement has remained empty.

Guillermo Lasso - El American
Followers of Guillermo Lasso, the president-elect (EFE)

Arauz acknowledges his defeat against Guillermo Lasso

The socialist candidate, Andres Arauz, recognized the triumph of Guillermo Lasso.

“This is an electoral setback, but in no way a political or moral defeat”, he said in an address to his followers in Quito, recognizing his defeat against the right-wing candidate.

Colombian and Uruguayan presidents already acknowledge Lasso’s victory in Ecuador

The president of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou, congratulated Guillermo Lasso after his victory in Ecuador’s presidential elections.

“I just spoke with Guillermo Lasso to congratulate him on his victory and to get to work together on the issues that our countries have in common,” wrote the Uruguayan president on his Twitter account.

For his part, the Colombian president also sent a message to his Ecuadorian counterpart:

“A few minutes ago we talked about working together for the region,” the president said in a message on his Twitter account.

“We will continue strengthening our trade, security and Andean integration relations for the benefit of our countries,” promised the Colombian president.

The congratulations of the current president were followed by those of former presidents Álvaro Uribe (2002-2010), who described Ecuador as “exemplary in the defense of democracy,” and Andrés Pastrana (1998-2002), who also spoke of an “exemplary democratic day for Latin America.”

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