Ecuadorian presidential candidate denounces coup attempt against second round

Quito, February 21 (RHC)-- The candidate to the Presidency of Ecuador for the coalition Union for Hope (Unes), denounced this Sunday that the second round of the elections in the South American country, scheduled for April 11th, is in danger due to the interference of State entities in the electoral process.

During a press conference in Quito Sunday morning, Andres Arauz, winner of the first electoral round, rejected the "interference and gross meddling of other State institutions in the electoral functions."   In his denunciation, the politician called on the international community and electoral observers to keep an eye on the electoral process in view of the threat posed by the State's intervention in the National Electoral Council (CNE).

Arauz responded to the request of the Comptroller General of the State, Pablo Celi, who sent an official letter to the National Electoral Council (CNE), in which he informed about the beginning of an audit to the computer system of this entity used for the elections of last February 7.

The Unes candidate considered as a blow to Ecuadorian democracy the interference of State entities in the electoral process.  "We took actions in Quito and Guayaquil with the presence of our militancy in the CNE to act as citizen observers before this threat of interference in the middle of the electoral process," he said.

Arauz stated: "Let us not allow any decision to modify the electoral calendar and the second round scheduled for April 11 because it is an attack against democracy."   He expressed his support to the right of the political movements to open the polls.  "We respect the right of political participations to present their challenges.  I insist on the right of Ecuadorians to present these requests and the obligation of the CNE to respond to them."