EU observers "categorically" reject Ecuador election fraud allegations
By Alexandra Valencia
QUITO (Reuters) - European Union observers said on Tuesday that they "categorically" reject allegations of fraud in Ecuador's Sunday presidential elections, joining a chorus of rejections of leftist Luisa Gonzalez's call for a recount.
Electoral authorities, the Organization of American States, the United States and members of Gonzalez's own party have said that President Daniel Noboa secured a full term in the vote.
Noboa's lead of more than 1 million votes was a surprising sweep, after a tight February first round when he finished ahead by just over 16,700 votes.
"We categorically reject the repeated narrative of fraud which has lead the (Citizens' Revolution) candidate not to recognize the results," said the head of the EU's observation mission, Gabriel Mato, during a press conference.
His team have not seen any evidence of manipulation or credible reports of fraud, Mato said, adding Ecuadoreans had voted freely.
There is work to be done for future contests, however, to ensure campaign donations are tracked properly, he said.
Indigenous party Pachakutik, which had backed Gonzalez, said in a statement early on Tuesday it recognized Noboa's victory and hoped campaign pledges would be implemented for the good of the country.
Gonzalez has not appeared publicly since Sunday night, nor provided details of what she said was a "grotesque" fraud.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Trump unfazed by Kennedy Center actors who boycotted his ‘Les Misérables' date night with Melania
WASHINGTON — A dressed-to-the-nines President Trump hit the Kennedy Center red carpet hand-in-hand with first lady Melania Wednesday night to see 'Les Misérables' — and was unfazed by reports that some cast members of his favorite musical planned to boycott opening night due to his presence. 'I couldn't care less, all I do is run the country well,' the black tuxedo-clad commander in chief told The Post as he stood next to Melania, who wore a sleek black sleeveless gown and silver stilettos for the event. It was the president's first visit to the Washington, DC, performing arts venue since he appointed himself chairman in February, when he declared it was in 'tremendous disrepair' and made it his mission to restore the center. 'We want to bring it back better than ever,' Trump said. 'As you know, it needs a little help from the standpoint of age and fitness, but it's going to be fantastic.' The president revealed he's seen 'Les Mis' a 'number of times' — and couldn't make up his mind about whether he identified more with Jean Valjean or Inspector Javert. 'That's tough, I think you better answer that, honey,' he said to Melania. The ritzy event raised $10 million and was also attended by Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance. The president had fired the Kennedy Center board when he took the helm — and hand-picked members of his own board, saying that the previous leadership allowed drag shows that were 'specifically targeting our youth.' 5 President Trump and Melania Trump arrive at the Kennedy Center to see 'Les Misérables.' Getty Images 5 The Trumps were dressed to the nines for the event. Getty Images Several drag queens crashed Wednesday's performance in protest of Trump's dramatic overhaul of the performing arts venue — and were met with scattered applause and cheers as they took their seats, according to videos shared on social media. 5 Trump has been on a mission to restore the national cultural center at the heart of DC. REUTERS 5 Several drag queens also crashed the performance in protest of Trump. AP Trump's outing comes as anti-ICE protests erupt nationwide, with Los Angeles remaining the epicenter of six straight days of violence and destruction sparked by sweeping immigration raids. Trump has since deployed 700 Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops to the City of Angels to quell the unrest – which he said is caused by 'radical left lunatics,' many of whom he claims are paid 'professionals. 'We are going to have law and order in our country,' Trump said. 5 Trump was unfazed by reports that some cast members of his favorite musical were expected to boycott. REUTERS 'If I didn't act quickly on that, Los Angeles would be burning to the ground right now.' Looking ahead to Saturday, Trump called his massive military parade — marking his 79th birthday and the US Army's 250th anniversary — an 'incredible' tribute to the nation. The $30 million daylong event along the National Mall will feature hundreds of military vehicles, tanks and planes, with approximately 6,600 soldiers marching alongside the historic instruments of war. 'It will be a parade like we haven't had in many, many decades,' Trump promised. 'And it's a celebration of our country. It's a celebration of the Army, actually … We have the greatest weapons in the world and the greatest people in the world. It's gonna be a big parade.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
US Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg to leave his role
By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg, who has voiced support for progressive primary challenges to Democratic incumbents running for re-election in the 2026 midterm elections, said on Wednesday he will not run for his post again. The party said its members had voted 294-99 to redo the contest that elected Hogg and another Democrat, Malcolm Kenyatta, as vice chairs earlier this year. In late April, DNC Chair Ken Martin issued a warning to Hogg to back away from plans to help finance progressive primary challenges to Democratic incumbents running for re-election in the 2026 midterm elections. Martin's message came with the warning that Hogg could get involved in Democratic primary campaigns but not while holding down a DNC job, as the party weighed possible rule changes to facilitate the firings of DNC officials for such activities. Hogg had said he would raise money through an outside group, "Leaders We Deserve," to foster such challenges. "It is clear that there is a fundamental disagreement about the role of a Vice Chair - and it's okay to have disagreements. What isn't okay is allowing this to remain our focus when there is so much more we need to be focused on," Hogg said in a statement on Wednesday. "I have decided to not run in this upcoming election so the party can focus on what really matters." Hogg, 25, gained national attention after surviving a 2018 mass shooting at his high school in Parkland, Florida. He became a voice for tighter gun control and has evolved into a political activist. Since then, he has been active in progressive causes and in February won a DNC vice chair spot, as the party intensified efforts to appeal to more progressive voters. The Democratic Party is engaged in a battle over its future after President Donald Trump won the 2024 U.S. elections while his Republican Party won control of both chambers of Congress. That left Democrats with little ability in Washington to limit Trump's policies, and sparked a wave of intra-party recriminations.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Chinese fighter jets flew unusually close to Japanese patrol planes
(Corrects the date of the Japan defence ministry announcement to Wednesday, not Thursday, in paragraph 1) By Kantaro Komiya and Nobuhiro Kubo TOKYO (Reuters) -Chinese fighter jets flew unusually close to Japanese military patrol planes over the weekend as two Chinese aircraft carriers operated in the Pacific Ocean for the first time, Japan's defence ministry said late on Wednesday. On Saturday, a Chinese J-15 jet from the aircraft carrier Shandong chased a Japanese P-3C patrol aircraft for about 40 minutes, the ministry said. On Sunday, a J-15 chased a P-3C for 80 minutes, crossing in front of the Japanese aircraft at a distance of only 900 meters (2,950 feet), it said. At one point on both days, a Chinese J-15 flew as close as 45 meters to a Japanese aircraft, the ministry said. The P-3C aircraft, belonging to Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force based in the island of Okinawa, were conducting surveillance over international waters in the Pacific, the ministry said. "Such abnormal approaches by Chinese military aircraft could potentially cause accidental collisions, and we have expressed serious concern and strongly requested prevention of recurrence," the ministry said, attaching close-up images of the J-15 jet it took on Sunday. Earlier this week, Tokyo said the Shandong and another Chinese carrier the Liaoning were conducting simultaneous operations in the Pacific for the first time, describing it as a move signifying Beijing's intention to further widen its capabilities beyond its borders. Beijing on Tuesday said the operations were a "routine training" exercise that did not target specific countries. In 2014, Tokyo said it spotted Chinese military aircraft flying as close as 30 metres to its military aircraft over the East China Sea and protested to Beijing.
