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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 21 February 2017

Ruling party candidate on top in Ecuador’s presidential vote

GONZALO SOLANO supporters outside the Na-
Associated Press tional Electoral Council
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — The stretched into Monday,
hand-picked candidate of and they said they would
socialist President Rafael stay until every vote was
Correa held an easy lead counted and a runoff was
Monday in Ecuador’s presi- confirmed.
dential election, though By afternoon, the crowd
authorities said it might be had grown to a few thou-
a few more days before sand who blocked traf-
they determine if he won fic and shouted anti-Cor-
enough votes to avoid a rea slogans as riot police
runoff against his nearest watched.
rival. “We’re going to stay here
With about 89 percent of until the people’s will is
polling stations reporting respected,” said Andres
late in the day, ruling party Paez, Lasso’s running mate
candidate Lenin Moreno who joined in the protest.
had slightly over 39 percent “If the results are clean
of the votes cast Sunday, we’ll recognize them. But
compared to 28 percent if they’re not we’ll declare Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa, from left, Lenin Moreno, presidential candidate for the ruling
for former banker Guillermo ourselves in civil disobedi- party Alliance PAIS, and running mate Vice President Jorge Glas, flash thumbs up as they cel-
Lasso, the closest contend- ence.” ebrate in Quito, Ecuador. Candidate Moreno held an easy lead Monday in Ecuador’s presidential
er among seven opposition Even before the first vote election, though authorities said it might be a few more days before they determine if he won
candidates. results were released Sun- enough votes to avoid a runoff against his nearest rival.
To avoid a runoff, and con- day evening, Moreno had (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
tinue a decade-long streak declared himself the win-
of leftist rule in Ecuador at ner based on inconclusive
a time the rest of South exit polls and he called on
America has tilted to the Lasso to recognize defeat.
right, Moreno needed to He later softened his stance
win a majority of the total while addressing support-
vote, or to have a 40 per- ers late Sunday, but said
cent share while holding a he was confident he would
10-point lead over his near- cross the required thresh-
est rival. old once all the votes were
An overnight vigil by Lasso counted.q

Federal judge rules Puerto Rico

Bondholders’ suit can proceed

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico control board put a halt to
(AP) — A federal judge has most legal action by credi-
agreed to let Puerto Rico’s tors.
general obligation bond- But Besosa said the gen-
holders move ahead with a eral obligation debt lawsuit
lawsuit arguing that the ter- was an exception because
ritory’s government can’t it was not aimed at con-
refuse to pay them while it fiscating commonwealth
pays off other bondholders property or obtaining any
while trying to restructure form of payment from the
the island’s nearly $70 bil- Puerto Rican government.
lion in debt. The lawsuit takes issue with
U.S. District Court Judge the commonwealth gov-
Francisco Besosa ruled ernment’s ability to default
over the weekend that the on its general obligation
move can proceed even bonds while still paying the
though last year’s law cre- holders of sales tax debt.q
ating Puerto Rico’s fiscal