Ecuadorian Presidential Election Will Head to Runoff Between Pro-Chavez Leftist vs. Pro-American Populist
October 16, 2006

Reuters reports that the presidential elections in Ecuador on Sunday did not produce a majority vote for any candidate, leading to a run-off election on November 26th.  The run-off will be between conservative, pro-American businessman Mogul Alvaro Noboa and pro-Chavez leftist candidate Rafael Correa.  The Washington Post reports that Noboa received 27% of the initial vote, slightly more than Correa’s 22%.  It is Noboa’s third run at the Ecuadorian presidency, and a recent surge in the polls over the past month made him the leading candidate. 

The highly polarized election have been quietly but closely monitored by both the United States and Venezuela according to Associated Press (AP).  Noboa has accused Correa of having dictatorial intentions that will destroy the Ecuadorian economy causing it to “become another Cuba,” reports the Washington Post.  Correa is running on a strong anti-American agenda, threatening to expel U.S. troops from Ecuador and a proposed US-Ecuador free trade pact.  The self proclaimed “friend of Chavez” also has plans to redistribute wealth from Ecuador’s oil export industry to assist the country’s poor.  The Reuters report also claims that he plans to dissolve the Ecuadorian Congress if elected.

As an owner of over 100 companies, Noboa claims he will use his business skills to assist the poor towards joining the middle class.  According to the AP he has also made “promises to provide cheaper housing and create a million jobs.”  Noboa believes that he is the candidate of democracy and prosperity, and Correa represents authoritarianism and economic decay.

Reuters reports that Noboa “looks like he is in a better position for the second round because traditional parties will probably support him.”  Noboa will receive support from these parties in their attempt to retain political influence.  Reuters reports that Correa insists he was the victim of fraud after hearing the results of the exit polls. Chief election observer Rafael Bielsa, former Argentine Foreign Minister, claims that the voting “was meeting international standards for a clean election.”

Correa gets his support from Ecuadorians who are “turned away from their traditional politicians for failing to curb corruption and chronic instability” according to Reuters.  Ecuador has had 7 presidents in the past 10 years, some of which have been removed by undemocratic means, leading  Freedom House to classify the country as “partly free” in its annual publication Freedom in the World.  Political rights and civil liberties in Ecuador are both listed as “3” in the 2006 edition. 

Sources:
Washing Post: Presidential Race In Ecuador Heads To Second Round
Reuters: Ecuador tycoon, leftist set for election run-off
Associated Press: Outsider, populist go to Ecuador runoff
Freedom House: Freedom in the World 2006