Banker Lasso wins surprise victory in Ecuador election

Ecuadoreans went to the polls with the pandemic pushing a third of people into poverty.

Former banker Guillermo Lasso has declared victory in the Ecuadorean presidential election, after his challenger, left-wing economist Andres Arauz, conceded defeat in a poll that took place against a COVID-19 pandemic that has devastated an already struggling economy. Lasso said he accepted the “challenge” of governing after winning the runoff with 52.5 percent of the vote from 97 percent of the ballots had been counted, according to figures published by the National Electoral Council. The elections council is due to speak at 10:00pm local time (03:00 GMT).