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February 8, 2021

Leftist Economist Andrés Arauz Claims Victory in First Round of Ecuador's Presidential Election
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In Ecuador, leftist economist Andrés Arauz won the first round of the
country's presidential election Sunday, marking a possible return to a
socialist government.

Andrés Arauz: "We have received an overwhelming vote from different
parts of our country. As I said earlier, it is a victory representative
of the entire national territory."

The 36-year-old Arauz is a protégé of former President Rafael Correa and
vowed to end the austerity and pro-open market policies of President
Lenín Moreno. Votes are still being tallied to determine whether Arauz
will run off against conservative banker Guillermo Lasso or Indigenous
environmental activist Yaku Pérez.


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