Ecuador will elect its next president in a runoff election in April, with the current president, conservative Daniela Noboe, and leftist lawyer Luiza Gonzalez running.
The two of them won the first two seats in the first round of elections held on Sunday, but not an absolute majority, in a battle with 14 other candidates.
The second round of elections scheduled for April 13 will be a repeat of the October 2023 snap elections that brought Noboa a 16-month presidency.
Both Noboa and Gonzales promise voters they will reduce the crime rate.
The sharp increase in violence in Ecuador is linked to the smuggling of cocaine produced in Colombia and Peru.
Data released by Ecuador's National Electoral Council shows that with a sample of 92,1 percent of ballots counted, Noboa received 4,22 million votes, or 44,31 percent, while Gonzalez received 4,17 million votes, or 43,83 percent.
Voting is mandatory in Ecuador, and authorities reported that more than 83 percent of voters cast ballots.
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