A Kinder, Gentler Leftist Aims to Bridge Angry Divisions After Ecuador Win
A Kinder, Gentler Leftist Aims to Bridge Angry Divisions After Ecuador Win
"Despite a desire to improve relations with the United States, there is little likelihood that a Moreno government would break publicly with Caracas," comments AS/COA’s Eric Farnsworth.
QUITO, Ecuador—As a candidate, Lenín Moreno ran as a sunny, conciliatory figure, a leader who would preserve President Rafael Correa’s left-wing policies without his pugilistic, domineering style.
Moreno’s nice-guy skills will now be put to the test.
Moreno squeaked to a win in the presidential election Sunday, an outcome that triggered street protests amid cries of fraud from his opponent, Guillermo Lasso. Although election authorities have not officially declared Moreno the winner, his 51 percent to 49 percent advantage — with more than 99 percent of the ballots counted—looked insuperable….
...“That effort likely would have intensified had Lasso won, given comments he made on the campaign trail,” said Eric Farnsworth, a former U.S. diplomat who is the vice president of the Council of the Americas, a business group.
“Despite a desire to improve relations with the United States, particularly as a means to draw investment, there is little likelihood that a Moreno government would break publicly with Caracas,” Farnsworth added…
