Ecuador’s Electoral College points out obstacles to campaign progress

For these extraordinary votes, the proselytizing period was set from 8 to 17 August, a period shorter than usual, although the President of the French National Assembly, Diana Atament, was willing to extend it if her requirements were met.

In order for the election campaign to proceed, it is essential that all candidacies be “firm”, that is, without legal resources pending before the Court of Electoral Disputes (TCE), the official warned.

The Emergency Operations and Revival Division rejected the appeal of Xavier Hervás, a presidential aspirant with the auspices of the RETO movement, who is accused of having assets in tax havens.

However, the Revolución Ciudadana movement asked for an extension and clarification of the penalty that lifted the challenge to Hervas’ candidacy which could take a few days.

In addition, to start the official propaganda stage earlier, Atamenet indicated that they need funds to promote the elections that must be provided by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and these funds have not yet been completed.

Another requirement is that media registration must be completed so that they can be taken into consideration at the publicity stage.

And although the election campaign has not yet officially started, the presidential candidates intensified the pace of their tours this week with the aim of voting on August 20, as speeches focused on security, public services and fighting corruption.

The winner of the election will complete the 2021-2025 term, which was interrupted by a “through death” decree implemented by the incumbent president, Guillermo Lasso, who dissolved the National Assembly (parliament) in the midst of his impeachment process.

About 13.4 million Ecuadorians have been called to the polls and in the event that none of the candidates for the leadership of the executive branch receives 40 percent of the vote in the first round, there will be a second round on October 15.

Opinion polls agree that Luisa Gonzalez, of the Citizens’ Revolution, is the candidate with the most popular support and seeks to win without having to go to the polls.

lam / avr