2017 Ecuadorian general election

General elections were held in Ecuador on 19 February 2017 alongside a referendum on tax havens.Referendum on tax havens will be conducted in the elections of 2017 Ecuador Times, 22 November 2016 Voters elected a new President and National Assembly. Incumbent President Rafael Correa of the PAIS Alliance was not eligible for re-election, having served three terms. In the first round of the presidential elections, PAIS Alliance candidate Lenín Moreno received 39% of the vote. Although he was more than 10% ahead of his nearest rival, Guillermo Lasso of the Creating Opportunities party, Moreno was just short of the 40% threshold required to avoid a run-off. As a result, a second round was held on 2 April.Ecuador will hold run-off poll to choose new president BBC News, 23 February 2017 In the second round Moreno was elected president with 51.16% of the vote.CNE plenary presented total results of the second round of elections CNE, 10 April 2017El Pleno del CNE proclamó a Lenín Moreno presidente electo de Ecuador El Comercio, 18 April 2017

Background Following nearly a decade of political volatility in Ecuador that was characterized by impeachments, economic crises, and public unrest, Rafael Correa, the nation's previous president, began his ascendance to power. During his 2006 campaign Correa established the PAIS Alliance, a coalition of leftist organizations that is the same party of current president Lenin Moreno. Lenin Moreno previously served as Correa's vice president.

Throughout his campaign and during his presidency Correa mobilized populist rhetoric to gain support, framing himself in opposition to the former political elite and current economic elite: Correa used the terms “neoliberal night” (“noche neoliberal”) and “particracy” (“partidocracia”) to refer to those groups, respectively, and characterized his own movement as a “citizen's revolution” (La revolucion ciudadana). Correa's success was part of a larger wave of leftist movements in Latin American that began around the turn of century, frequently referred to as the “pink tide.” Other countries that elected left-leaning presidents in the early 2000s include Argentina (Néstor Kirchner), Venezuela (Hugo Chávez), and Brazil (Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva), among others.

One of the most significant events that took place during Correa's time in office was the ratification of a new constitution in 2008. Correa advocated for the new constitution and his supporters welcomed it, citing a focus on civil rights and social programs for the impoverished. However, the constitution was also met with much opposition, as its detractors feared that the document would give too much economic authority to the executive and initially believed its elimination of term limits would benefit Correa himself, although a provision on the amendment assured the law would not be put into action until after his presidency had ended.

Guillermo Lasso, a former banker, initially ran for president in 2013, but lost to Correa by more than 30% of the vote in the first round.Archived copy ) In both his first and second bids for president, Lasso was aligned with the Creating Opportunities Party (Creando Oportunidades), a conservative-leaning party that formed in 2012 and focused on celebrating the market, eliminating taxes, as well as advocating for an independent judiciary and free speech.

With Correa ineligible for re-election, his supporters formed an organisation Rafael Contigo Siempre (Always with you Rafael) to campaign for a constitutional amendment to allow him to run again. With signatures from 8% of the electorate required to hold a referendum (929,062), a total of 1.2 million were collected.Ecuadorians Collect 1.2 Million Signatures for Correa's Reelection Panama Post, 17 August 2016 However, Correa stated that he was planning on retiring from politics and would not run again.Ecuador's Rafael Correa to Supporters: Thanks but I Won't Run for Reelection Panama Post, 21 August 2016 Instead, on 2 October 2016 the PAIS Alliance nominated Lenín Moreno, Correa's vice president from 2007 to 2013, as its candidate, with incumbent vice president Jorge Glas as his running mate. Moreno was challenged by Guillermo Lasso, a former banker.

Campaign A central issue in the presidential election was corruption; scandals in the Petroecuador state oil company and Odebrecht cases led to demands that candidates develop substantive plans to deal with corruption. Moreno proposed an anti-corruption law, while Lasso proposed a Truth Commission, which would be created with assistance from the United Nations.Corruption returns to the debate Ecuador Times, 21 March 2017

The two main candidates had very different visions for the country; Moreno's policy ideas were fairly similar to Correa's, while Lasso said he wanted to attack corruption and lower taxes.Ecuador votes in crucial general elections Al Jazeera, 19 February 2017

Lasso said before the elections that he would not allow Julian Assange to continue living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London.Ecuador's Election Ends In Close Result, And Accusations Of Cheating NPR, 3 April 2017

Electoral system The President was elected using a modified two-round system, with a candidate required to get over 50% of the vote, or get over 40% of the vote and be 10% ahead of their nearest rival to be elected in the first round.Ecuador IFES The President is limited to two consecutive four-year terms.Ecuador Political Database of the Americas

The 137 members of the National Assembly were elected by three methods : 15 were elected from a nationwide constituency, 116 were elected in 31 districts (21 corresponding to the 21 smallest provinces and 10 within the 3 largest provinces, range 2-6 seats per district), and six elected from three two-member constituencies representing Ecuadorians living overseas. Elections are by open list proportional representation (every voter can vote for as many candidates as there are seats to be awarded), with the 15 national seats allocated using the Webster method and the rest using the d'Hondt method.Articles 150.2 and 164 Electoral law of Ecuador Voting was compulsory except for voters aged 16–18 or over 65 and people classed as illiterate.Electoral system IPU Members of the National Assembly are limited to two four-year terms, either consecutive or not. There are gender quotas for the party lists, meaning there is alternation between men and women. There are no quotas for minority representation.

Parties have to receive at least 5% of the vote in national elections in order to maintain their legal registration.Ecuador - Political parties Nations Encyclopedia

Opinion polls Second round

DateInstituteLenínMorenoGuillermoLasso22/03/17Eureknow44.3%41.3%22/03/17DIAGNOSTICO48.73%37.07%21/03/17Perfiles de Opinión49.37%36.35%21/03/17CEDATOS52.4%47.6%21/03/17Market52.1%47.9%19/03/17CMS36,76%35,86%16/03/17DIAGNOSTICO50.61%36.72%15/03/17CEDATOS49.2%50.8%14/03/17Market53.2%46.8%14/03/17Perfiles de Opinión51.02%35.53%12/03/17Opinión Pública46%35%09/03/17DIAGNOSTICO48.36%35.70%06/03/17CMS35.17%35.01%01/03/17DIAGNOSTICO50.39%41.20%25/02/17CIS59%41%25/02/17CEDATOS47.9%52.1%

First round

DateInstituteLenínMorenoGuillermoLassoCynthiaViteriPacoMoncayoDaloBucaramWashingtonPesántezIvánEspinelPatricioZuquilandaEnd of public opinion polling (08/02/17)08/02/17CMS25.63%15.18%6.64%5.52%––––08/02/17CIEES43.3%21.3%12.6%10.8%6.6%1.0%3.9%0.6%08/02/17Opinión Pública34.2%18.2%13.7%7.4%3.6%0.1%2.5%0.6%08/02/17CEDATOS32.3%21.5%14%7.7%4.1%0.5%2.9%0.6%08/02/17Perfiles de Opinión35%16%14%7%4%<2%4%<2%08/02/17Market28.5%18.3%20.2%11.5%4.9%0.9%2.6%1.0%28/01/17Informe Confidencial26.5%17.5%18.5%–––––27/01/17CMS26.42%15.51%7.70%5.97%2.94%<2%<2%<2%23/01/17CEDATOS 34.3%22.9%11.4%8.0%4.3%0.5%1.7%0.3%21/01/17Market28.17%16.57%17.98%13.22%4.78%0.59%1.53%1.3%19/01/17Estrategia y Táctica23.6%15.8%12.8%16.9%––––15/01/17Opinión Pública34%18.2%8.9%6.0%2.9%0.2%1.2%0.1%08/01/17Perfiles de Opinión35%17%14%8%4%<3%<3%<3%

DateInstituteLenínMorenoGuillermoLassoCynthiaViteriPacoMoncayoDaloBucaramWashingtonPesántezIvánEspinelPatricioZuquilandaLucioGutiérrezÁlvaroNoboa29/12/16CEDATOS35.6%22.3%10.9%6.9%3.2%0.3%0.8%0.4%––28/12/16Market28.6%17.7%19.3%14.8%4.0%0.4%0.9%0.1%––19/12/16CMS24.63%12.89%7.27%5.18%––––––19/12/16Opinión Pública35.9%17.4%7.5%7.6%1.7%0.3%0.4%0.8%––15/12/16Perfiles de Opinión36.86%15.23%12.33%4.8%3.23%0.60%1.28%0.08%––15/12/16Market31.3%17.1%17.4%13.8%3.5%0.5%1.2%1.9%––02/12/16CEDATOS36.2%22%9.7%7.3%3%0.5%1%–1.7%0%01/12/16Estrategia y Táctica28.68%18.11%13.39%14.03%4%–––––28/11/16Market28.1%18.0%17.6%9.5%1.9%0.1%1.5%0.3%––26/11/16CMS22.79%11.22%6.73%5.22%––––––23/11/16Opinión Pública40%16.1%7.7%6.5%1.5%0.1%0.5%–––19/11/16CIEES42%15%9%9%<3%–––<3%<3%18/11/16Perfiles de Opinión43%14%10%8%2%––––1%01/11/16CMS26.11%11.14%5.23%5.89%––––––28/10/16CEDATOS37%20%10%7%3%1%––2%1%26/10/16CIEES44%13%6%8%––––––25/10/16Market32.2%14.30%16.14%13.70%––––––25/10/16CMS29.91%11.63%6%7.83%––––––23/10/16Merchandising28%12%5%6%–––––13%23/10/16Markconsult S.A.24%11.5%9.1%2%9.3%–––––23/10/16Market33.1%13.8%17.5%10.3%2.0%––––2.3%16/10/16Opinión Pública38.1%13.7%6.2%6.2%0.8%0.6%–––1.6%13/10/16Perfiles de Opinión48%12%9%8%2%––––3%

DateInstituteRafaelCorreaLenínMorenoJorgeGlasGuillermoLassoCynthiaViteriPacoMoncayoDaloBucaramÁlvaroNoboaLucioGutiérrezLourdesTibánLeninHurtadoEnriqueAyala MoraWashingtonPesántezJimmyJairalaPaúlCarrascoJaimeNebotMauricioRodas30/09/16Dialoga–31.7%–21.4%11.5%4.9%4.5%–––––––––––32.1%–22.4%–4.8%4.9%–––––––7.9%––28/09/16Informe Confidencial–36%–18.8%15.7%2.1%2.1%–––––––––––33.7%–21.1%–2.3%2.9%–––––––9.8%––16/09/16Perfiles de Opinión–49.06%–15.55%10.63%2.27%–––1.37%––––2.25%––––30.41%17.55%14.77%––––––––––––15/09/16CEDATOS–35%–18%8%2%2%2%2%–––0.2%––––12/09/16Quantum–42%–15%10%4%–––––––––––––17%16%10%8%–––––––––––12/09/16Monitor–31.3%–23.4%13.3%4.1%–––––––––––––26.9%24.8%13.3%3.6%–––––––––––10/09/16Opinion Pública–44%–14%4%1%1%1%–1%1%––4%–––30/08/16Perfiles de Opinión–54%–16%8%–––3%––––––––––34%19%13%–––3%––––––––23/08/16Monitor––23.4%20.5%17.3%4.8%––––––––––––33%–19.5%16.2%4.4%–––––––––––25.8%––20.6%17.5%4.8%–––––––––––03/08/16Informe Confidencial–39.3%–12.5%7.4%–0.9%1.7%1.6%––0.4%–––––––27.3%13.6%11.8%–1%1.9%2.2%––0.4%–––––22/07/16CEDATOS–35%–22%8%–2%2%2%1%1%1%0.1%––––28%––21%8%–2%2%2%1%1%1%1%––––––20%24%10%–3%2%2%1%1%1%0.1%––––04/07/16Perfiles de Opinion–43.5%–13.2%15.5%–1.3%4.2%–––1.2%0.2%––––––25.5%16.8%17.4%–1.7%4.8%–––2.9%0.8%––––03/07/16CEDATOS––25%31%1%–2%2%–1%0.2%1%0.1%1%–––28%––27%––1%–––––––0%11%–28%––28%––1%–1%–––0%–––6%07/16Opinion Pública–38%–17%5%2%1%–––1%––6%–––

DateInstituteLenínMorenoJorgeGlasGuillermoLassoJaimeNebotCynthiaViteriPacoMoncayoÁlvaroNoboaDaloBucaramWashingtonPesántezLourdesTibán29/06/16CEDATOS44%–26%–1%––1%0.1%1%–25%29%–1%––2%0.3%2%42%–23%10%–––1%0%1%01/05/16Perfiles de Opinión50%–9%15%–2%2%2%1%––25%14%20%–4%3%1%1%–

DateInstituteRafaelCorreaJorgeGlasLenínMorenoGuillermoLassoJaimeNebotMauricioRodasDaloBucaramRamiroGonzálezCynthiaViteriAlbertoDahikCarlosPérezLucioGutiérrezÁlvaroNoboaLeninHurtadoPaúlCarrasco21/02/16Opinion Pública––34%10%10%–1%1%–––2%1%1%–17/02/16CEDATOS–19%–40%––4%–4%1%0%––––34%––26%13%–1%–––––––0%36%––27%–8%7%––––1%–––10/01/16Perfiles de Opinión–29.8%–20.8%–14.4%3.3%1.9%––––––––28.5%–16.1%23.9%–2.8%2.4%–––––––

DateInstituteRafaelCorreaLenínMorenoGuillermoLassoMauricioRodasJaimeNebotLucioGutiérrezAlbertoAcostaPaúlCarrascoRamiroGonzálezÁlvaroNoboa21/12/15Perfiles de Opinión–58%9%–16%–––1%––60%13%7%––––1%–11/12/15Opinion Pública–35%10%6%6%1%0.4%–2%0.4%03/10/15Opinion Pública37%–12%10%6%2%––1%–06/08/15Opinion Pública34%–11%9%4%2%–1%––13/07/15CEDATOS40.4%–24%12.3%8.1%–––––

DateInstituteRafaelCorreaGuillermoLassoMauricioRodasLucioGutiérrezAlbertoAcostaÁlvaroNoboaNormanWrayNelsonZavalaJorgeGlasLenínMorenoJaimeNebotIsabelNoboaRamiroGonzálezVinicioAlvarado19/06/14CEDATOS50%16.7%11.1%1.2%0.5%1.4%0.3%0.3%–––––––22.6%15.6%2.1%0.7%–––17.6%13.3%6.2%0.6%0.6%0.3%