Ecuador suspends recount in presidential polls

Third-place candidate Yaku Perez requested the recount, saying fraud was committed to keep him out of the runoff.

Ecuador’s National Electoral Council has suspended a recount of votes from the first round of the presidential election requested by left-wing Indigenous candidate Yaku Perez, who has alleged fraud denied him a place in the runoff. The count was put on hold after the five-member council could not reach a majority in favour of Perez’s request after holding a vote late on Tuesday, with two for, one against, one abstention and another absent. “This plenary session of the National Electoral Council, unfortunately, does not respond to the request, nor does it approve or deny the report presented in the technical area” on the request for a recount, council head Diana Atamaint said.