Ruling party candidate Lenin Moreno was declared the winner of Ecuador's presidential runoff on Monday April 03,2017, delivering a major setback to a recent right-ward surge in Latin American politics and providing continuity to President Rafael Correa's "Citizens' Revolution".
But his rival, conservative banker Guillermo Lasso, has yet to concede defeat and demanded a recount after three exit polls showed him winning, setting the stage for protests and charges of election fraud in this historically turbulent Andean nation
"We're not fools, nor are the Ecuadorean people," Lasso said on Twitter, hours after claiming victory based on the exit polls results. "We will act democratically and with respect for authorities but firmly to defend the will of the people."
With more than 94 per cent of voting acts counted, the National Electoral Council said Moreno beat Lasso 51 per cent to 49 per cent.
Thousands of outraged Lasso supporters shouting "fraud" broke through metal barricades and almost reached the entrance of the electoral council's headquarters in Quito before being pushed back by police.
A similar scuffle took place outside the electoral offices in Guayaquil, where Lasso voted.
Moreno supporters celebrated and accused their opponents of trying to disavow results. The head of the electoral council, a favorite punching bag of the opposition, appealed for calm.
"Ecuador deserves that its political actors show ethical responsibility in recognizing the democratic will expressed by the people at the voting booths," said National Electoral President Juan Pablo Pozo. "Not a single vote has been given or taken away from anyone."
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