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Supporters of candidate Andrés Arauz after the election
Photo: SANTIAGO ARCOS / REUTERS
The next president of Ecuador will be decided in April in a runoff between two left-wing candidates.
After the presidential election on Sunday, the left ex-minister Andrés Arauz is 31.5 percent ahead.
According to the results published by the national electoral authority, the indigenous lawyer Yaku Pérez came in second place with 20.04 percent.
Arauz, who is only 36 years old, is a pupil of the former head of state Rafael Correa.
The 51-year-old Pérez, on the other hand, is a vehement opponent of Correa, although he also belongs to the left camp.
Because of the drop in the price of oil and the corona pandemic, Ecuador is in a deep economic crisis.
Both candidates want to counteract this with a left-wing agenda.
The economist Arauz wants to increase the subsidies in the event of an election victory and end the austerity program demanded by the International Monetary Fund.
Pérez is a leader of indigenous groups in their struggle for environmental protection and against the activities of mining companies.
Outgoing President Lenin Moreno leaves country in crisis
The right-wing ex-banker Guillermo Lasso landed with 19.97 percent just behind Pérez in third place and was eliminated from the race.
Lasso (65) stands for a liberal economic course.
This is the third time he is running for the presidency and is considered an all-time candidate in Ecuador.
The previous President Lenín Moreno was no longer running.
Moreno leaves a controversial legacy and a polarized country.
Due to the drop in the price of oil, Ecuador is in a serious economic crisis that was exacerbated by the corona pandemic.
More than 257,000 people in the South American country were infected with the coronavirus, and around 15,000 died after being infected.
The future government faces major challenges.
However, high national debt and an economy that according to official estimates shrank by 8.9 percent in 2020 leave little room for maneuver.
The runoff election for the presidency is scheduled for April 11th.
The new head of state is expected to take office on May 24th.
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mrc / dpa / AFP