Ecuadorian presidential candidate Daniel Noboa escaped unharmed after a shooting took place in his campaign closing rally ahead of the Aug. elections, it was reported in Quito.
Ecuadorian politician Pedro Briones of former President Rafael Correa's Revolución Ciudadana (RC) party, was shot dead just days after the killing of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio of the Movimiento Construye.
Presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio died after being attacked by hitmen on his way out of a campaign rally in downtown Quito ahead of the upcoming Aug. 20 elections, Interior Minister Juan Zapata confirmed in the Ecuadorian capital. Other people were wounded, it was reported.
Quito expelled Argentina's Ambassador Gabriel Fuks and Buenos Aires retaliated by giving Xavier Monge his marching orders after a former official of the Rafael Correa administration fled to Caracas where she expects to complete her asylum process with the government of Alberto Fernández.
Citing humanitarian grounds, the Government of Argentina has granted diplomatic asylum to the Ecuadorian national Maria de los Angeles Duarte Pesantes, a former official under former President Rafael Correa.
Businessman, banker and centre-right conservative politician Guillermo Lasso has been sworn in as Ecuador's new President Monday for the next four years, in a ceremony held at the National Assembly in Quito.
Contrary to expectations, Guillermo Lasso Sunday surprisingly beat Andrés Arauz to become Ecuador's next president. Lasso, a conservative, was a sure winner in the evening as 97.91% of the votes were counted.
The recent general elections in Ecuador defined a legislative panorama radically different from the previous one, with two forces that will hold more than 50% of the total of 137 seats, the Correista alliance Union for Hope (UNES) and the indigenous party Pachakutik (PK), and the disappearance of Alianza PAIS, the force founded by former president Rafael Correa and taken over four years ago by outgoing president Lenín Moreno.
Ecuadorean presidential candidate Andres Arauz, and protegé of ex populist president Rafael Correa claimed victory in Sunday's election, although exit polls indicate he will face a runoff on 11 April, according to primary results.
Uncertain times ahead for Ecuador, if after four years of orthodox economic policies to try and balance government accounts and restructure foreign debt are followed by promises of heterodox economics and populist handouts.