Exit polls in Ecuador’s presidential election on Sunday indicated it was too close to say whether Lenín Moreno, the successor to Rafael Correa in the ruling Alianza Pais coalition, would face his nearest rival Guillermo Lasso, of the rightwing Creo-Suma alliance, in a runoff in April. As results trickled in from Ecuador’s Andes, jungle, and Pacific coast, Moreno, a disabled former vice president, was just short of the 40 percent of votes and a 10 percentage-point difference over his nearest rival to win outright. He had 39.11 percent of valid votes versus 28.34 percent for Lasso, with 89.5 percent of votes counted, the official preliminary election count showed on Monday afternoon. Moreno, who lost the use of his legs two decades ago after being shot during a robbery, has a more conciliatory style than fiery outgoing President Rafael Correa and has promised benefits for the disabled, single mothers and the elderly. Moreno spokesman Andres Michelena said in an interview that Moreno, if elected, would arrive “offering his hand to all sectors.”

“Perhaps in the past 10 years, a different style was needed to push through the reforms the country needed, but today what is needed is consensus, dialogue with the business community, the news media and social groups for the benefit of the country,” Michelena said. “I’ve always supported this government with all my soul, because it’s the people’s movement which cares about the forgotten ones,” said Anita Rueda, a Moreno supporter. “We will present ourselves to the Ecuadorean people once again… once the truth we know in Ecuador, Latin America, and the entire world is confirmed: There’s a second round,” he said in his hometown of Guayaquil near the Pacific Coast. Lasso has campaigned on a platform to revive the economy, which is dependent on exports of oil, flowers and shrimp, by slashing taxes, fostering foreign investment and creating 1 million jobs in four years. While Ecuadoreans are angry over an economic downturn and corruption scandals, the opposition split its votes among candidates and the ruling Country Alliance remains popular with many poor voters thanks to social welfare programs. “We’re here watching that they don’t cheat us.”

Protesters waving yellow, blue and red Ecuadorean flags chanted slogans including “We’re not Cuba or Venezuela, out with Correa!”

Outgoing President Rafael Correa was one of the key figures in Latin America’s leftist axis that includes Caracas and Havana.
Voters head to the polls to select the National Assembly and a new president with former vice-president Lenín Moreno facing off against former bank president Guillermo Lasso, and six other opposition candidates. There will be an April 2 runoff unless the leader receives 40 percent of the votes and is at least 10 percentage points ahead of the others. In addition, there's a tax haven referendum.