- Title: Ecuador recounts votes in tight presidential election
- Date: 18th April 2017
- Summary: QUITO, ECUADOR (APRIL 18, 2017) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF OFFICIALS COUNTING BALLOTS AT INAUGURATION OF RECOUNT OFFICIALS SEATED AT INAUGURATION OF SITE FOR RECOUNT BOXES HOLDING BALLOTS STACKED AT RECOUNT CENTRE SOLDIERS GUARDING BALLOT BOXES BALLOT BOXES DIVIDED BY ELECTORAL REGION SOLDIERS AND OFFICIALS AT COUNTING SITE OFFICIALS STANDING UP FOR ECUADOREAN NATIONAL ANTHEM PLAYING DURING INAUGURATION OF RECOUNT SITE
- Embargoed: 2nd May 2017 17:50
- Keywords: Ecuador election vote ballots recount candidates Lenin Moreno Guillermo Lasso
- Location: QUITO, ECUADOR
- City: QUITO, ECUADOR
- Country: Ecuador
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA0016CXFLMR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Ecuador begun a partial recount on Tuesday (April 18) of its recent disputed presidential election, in a bid to highlight what it says was a fair process after the losing conservative candidate said there was fraud.
The April 2 election was won by the government's socialist candidate Lenin Moreno in a close contest, rebutting a tide of market-friendly governments that have recently come to power in South America.
The recount of the equivalent of 1.2 million votes, which would account for 12 percent of the total votes cast will take place in public.
The recount is taking place under high security, with international observers mobilised to watch over the process and soldiers in place to guard ballot boxes. The recount will also be filmed and broadcast for the public to ensure transparency.
Despite winning, Moreno's party has also disputed the results, saying he won by a larger margin than the tally showed. Moreno won 51.16 percent of valid votes versus 48.84 percent for his opponent Guillermo Lasso, with 99.65 percent of votes counted, according to the electoral council.
Lasso, a 61-year-old former banker, declared himself the winner of the vote before any official announcement had been made. Saying the election results made a "mockery" of the Ecuadorean people, he has asked for a full recount. The OPEC country's new president is to be inaugurated on May 24. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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