Ecuadoreans Head To Polls Amid Election Marred By Violence

Voters in Ecuador head to the polls on Sunday amid a wave of political violence unprecedented in the South American Country’s modern history.

The Country will choose from a crowded field of eight presidential candidates and elect a new legislature. If no presidential candidate wins with more than 40 per cent of the vote and by a 10 per cent margin, a run-off will be held in October.

Given the large number of candidates, pollsters expect a second round.

Candidates have pledged to fight sharp increases in crime, which the current Government blames on drug gangs, and improve the struggling economy, whose woes have caused an uptick in unemployment and migration.

Security has taken centre stage in the contest since the August 9 murder of anti-corruption candidate Fernando Villavicencio, a former investigative journalist and lawmaker, who was gunned down while leaving a campaign event.

Pro-market candidate Otto Sonnenholzner has hardened his discourse since Villavicencio’s murder, repeatedly promising that criminals who use violence will be shot by police under his Government.

Law and order candidate Jan Topic, who says he was a member of the French Foreign Legion, has pledged to solve security problems first, while Daniel Noboa, son of prominent banana businessman and former candidate Alvaro Noboa, has centred his campaign on job creation.

The 13 million-strong electorate will also choose 137 members of the National Assembly.

Voting is mandatory for those between 18 and 65.

Authorities have said 100,000 police and military will guard polling places.

A candidate needs 50% of the vote, or 40% if they are 10 points ahead of their nearest rival, to win in a first round. Otherwise, a second round will take place on October 15.

REUTERS