Presidential elections in Ecuador

February 16, 2013
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About 11 million Ecuadorians are invited Sunday to elect 137 members of the Assembly and the president.

The law prevents polls published two weeks of the election date, but the last surveys give the current President Correa a wide lead, about 60 percent of voter intention.

The banker Guillermo Lasso of movement CREO would be in second place with 11 percent of the vote, and Correa would directly elected without a runoff.

According to the Ecuadorian electoral system, the winner in the first round will need more than 50 percent of the vote, or more than 40 percent and a difference of ten points over the second.

Alberto Acosta with a vote intention of 4.5 percent of Plurinational Unity of the Left party was among the first ministers of Correa, but some differences in economic policies led to become opposition.

Former President Lucio Gutierrez of ‘Patriotic Society January 21’ Party had 3.5 percent, was presented as a regenerator of democracy, ensuring they will not repeat the same mistakes during his tenure.

Elections in Ecuador are mandatory, so the 11.6 million people living in the country should exercise their vote.

Polling stations opened at 7:00 and close at 16:00.