Former banker Lasso leads ex-minister Arauz in Ecuadorian presidential runoff
QUITO, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Former banker and three-time presidential candidate Guillermo Lasso had the lead in the Ecuadorian presidential runoff with 54.97 percent of the votes, as 62.95 percent of the ballots had been counted late Sunday.
Progressive candidate and ex-minister Andres Arauz trailed in the second place with 45.03 percent of the votes, according to data from Ecuador's National Electoral Council (CNE).
CNE President Diana Atamaint said Sunday's voting proceeded normally amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with 71.35 percent of more than 13 million eligible voters going to the polls.
In a national network broadcast, Atamaint congratulated Ecuadorians who have cast their ballots "with civic commitment and compliance with the biosafety protocol."
Some 294 international observers monitored the elections, which will decide on the successor to President Lenin Moreno. Enditem