Elections will be held SUNDAY, this weekend, for President, Vice President, Diputados (“Deputies,” for congress representing the country’s “provinces” which are similar to the US states), Concejeros (similar to state representatives, but here for the provinces), Consejales (similar to city counselors) and Parlamentarios Andinos (these representing Ecuador in the multi-nation Comunidad Andina de Naciones, Community of Andean Nations). Voting is mandatory for Ecuadorian citizens over the age of 18 and is, for the first time, available for Ecuadorians who have migrated to other countries (mostly the US, Spain and Italy).
There will almost certainly be a presidential run-off; in order to win a candidate must have 40 percent of the vote and win by at least ten percent. With 13 candidates, this would be an incredible feat. Not all the candidates represent national parties; some represent alliances which gained enough support to be recognized in the elections.
There are considered to be 4 front-runners in the presidential race: Rafael Correa, Cynthia Viteri, Alvaro Naboa, and Leon Roldos. These four candidates took part in a live forum last week (see link on right if you are interested).
The woman pictured above is Cynthia Viteri. I have posted her propoganda pic, so you have an example of the typical ¨woman candidate pose.¨ Ecuadorian colors on the bracelet, over the heart, are particularly standard! Viteri is the only woman candidate among the 13 and seems to be well liked as a person. However there is much apprehension about her financial backing originating of the ¨old politicos¨, and she currently stands as fourth in national polls. She is considered to be on the right, more conservative range of the political spectrum.
The candidate pictured to the right is Naboa, the richest Ecuadorian businessman, and considered to be the farthest right of the four leading candidates. He has run in two previous presidential elections. He has been traveling around the country working hard for the ¨poor vote¨by distributing gifts and healthcare. Naboa is currently second to Correa (below) in the national polls. Naboa has spoken of cutting ties with Venesuela and Cuba if he is elected.
To the left is Correa, currently first in national polls. He definately has the most ¨catchy¨campaign with an upbeat theme song, commercials featuring a snapping belt, and the most vibrant colors: neon green and electric blue. Of the forerunners, he is the candidate most supportive of Hugo Chavez in Venesuela and Evo Morales in Bolivia. Correa is an economist who had a three month stint as the Minister of Economics, during which he established a national following. Correa obtained his doctorate in Economics in the US. Many Ecuadorians are concerned about Correa´s potencial to make irratic decisions and his general stance against any action that ¨the government¨ has previously taken. He is the only candidate of these four who has suggested he would support a change, or at least the addition of, another currency other than the US dollar (which has been used here since 1998).
Below is the candidate currently in third place in the Ecuadorian polls. He is considered a moderate left (as compared with Correa), and is the candidate of the alliance of two parties, the ¨Red Etica Democracia¨ and the Izquierda Democrática.¨ Roldos is a former Vice-president, former Deputy (congressman) and attorney by trade. His foreign policies lie somewhere in between Correa and Naboa (as do Viteri´s), and are more diplomatic in nature. 
Up until about two weeks ago, 70 percent of Ecuadorians were unsure of their choice for president. I am not sure what the uncertaintly number is at this point, however it is still high enough to swing the election in a variety of directions.
This election should be very interesting as Correa, the candidate currently rated first in polls, and Naboa who is second, are the most extreme of the four in terms of their foriegn policies (however in opposite directions). Also, Correa is one of the candidates who does not represent a party, but rather an alliance. He has suggested disbanning congress and states plans for a national assembly to reconsider the national constitution.
The next round of elections (between the two finalists), will be held the 26th of November.
When the new president takes office in January, it will have been 10 years since the last time an Ecuadorian president completed a full 4-year term.
The current president is Palacios. He is not a candidate for President, he was the Vice President under Lucio Gutierrez, who was the last president elected to ofice, in 2003. Palacios was elevated to President when Gutierrez was removed during a popular uprising in 2005. Gutierrez, among other things, had tried to remove the Ecuadorian Supreme Court, . When I represented
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