Ecuador election council sets presidential vote for Aug. 20
May 24, 2023 GMTQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador's National Electoral Council announced on Tuesday that early presidential elections would be held on Aug. 20 after President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the National Assembly by decree last week and brought forward the vote scheduled for 2025.
Ecuador court rejects lawmakers’ challenges to president’s disbanding of National Assembly
May 19, 2023 GMTQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador's Constitutional Court voted unanimously Thursday to reject multiple challenges that sought to invalidate President Guillermo Lasso's decree dissolving the opposition-led National Assembly as it tried to oust him in an impeachment trial.
Ecuador’s president dismisses legislature as it tries to oust him, in a move that promises turmoil
May 17, 2023 GMTQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — The president of Ecuador dismissed the legislature Wednesday in a move that promised more turmoil around a conservative leader who has been unable to enact a business-friendly agenda as the South American country experiences an alarming rise in crime.
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — President Guillermo Lasso dissolved Ecuador's National Assembly on Wednesday just as it was forging ahead with impeachment proceedings to remove the conservative leader from office over alleged mismanagement.
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador was locked in a showdown Tuesday between its conservative president and its opposition-led legislature that was turning the country into the latest Latin American nation torn between rival constitutional powers.
Ecuador legislature moves forward on president’s impeachment
May 9, 2023 GMTQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador’s opposition-led National Assembly voted Tuesday to move forward with impeachment proceedings against President Guillermo Lasso over embezzlement allegations, while his defense team argued that the procedure violated the legislative body's own rules.
Ecuador court says congress can pursue impeaching president
March 30, 2023 GMTQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador’s Constitutional Court ruled Wednesday the opposition-dominated National Assembly can take up the question of whether to impeach President Guillermo Lasso over allegations of crimes against state security and corruption.
Landslide in Ecuador kills at least 7, with dozens missing
March 28, 2023 GMTALAUSI, Ecuador (AP) — A huge landslide swept over an Andean community in central Ecuador, burying dozens of homes, killing at least seven people and sending rescuers on a frantic search for survivors, authorities said Monday.
Biden: US looking to strengthen relationship with Ecuador
December 19, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — With Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso by his side, President Joe Biden said Monday the U.S. is looking to expand and strengthen the U.S.
Biden to meet with Ecuador’s Lasso at White House next week
December 16, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will meet with the president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, at the White House this coming Monday.
Mexico’s president plans regional meeting of leaders
November 7, 2022 GMTMEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s president said Monday he will host a meeting of leaders from Latin America this month, including most of the wave of recently elected leftists.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said the presidents of Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia are coming to Mexico City.
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy talks to Argentina, Chile presidents
July 1, 2022 GMTBUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pressed on with his campaign to obtain support from Latin America with calls Friday to the leaders of Argentina and Chile.
“I continue to establish relations with an important region — Latin America,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media.
Group leading protests OKs dialogue with Ecuador government
June 27, 2022 GMTQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — The Indigenous organization leading protests in Ecuador on Monday agreed to discuss with the government possible solutions that could lead to the end of a strike that has paralyzed parts of the country for two weeks.
Ecuador’s government lifts state of emergency amid protests
June 26, 2022 GMTQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso on Saturday lifted a state of emergency he'd imposed in six provinces amid an Indigenous-led strike, a surprise move that came as lawmakers in the National Assembly heard an opposition petition to remove him from office.
Ecuador president: Indigenous leader is trying to stage coup
June 25, 2022 GMTQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador's president charged Friday that the Indigenous leader heading a nationwide strike is seeking to stage a coup and warned he will use all legal tools to contain the violence unleashed by the demonstrations.
Ecuador: Indigenous leader is arrested over violent protests
June 14, 2022 GMTQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Authorities in Ecuador arrested the leader of a national Indigenous group on Tuesday, alleging that he was responsible for violence during anti-government protests.
Leónidas Iza, president of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, was arrested in Pastocalle, in the Andean center of the country, according to police.
Ecuador approves measure regulating abortion for rape cases
February 17, 2022 GMTQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuadorian legislators approved a measure Thursday setting regulations for terminating pregnancies resulting from rape, following a Constitutional Court ruling that decriminalized such abortions.
Olympic sprinter Alex Quiñónez fatally shot in Ecuador
October 23, 2021 GMTGUAYAQUIL, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuadorian sprinter Alex Quiñónez was fatally shot in the port city of Guayaquil, police said Saturday.
Quiñónez, who was 32, became a national hero in 2012 when he reached the 200 meter final at the London Games, finishing seventh in a race won by Usain Bolt.
Ecuador’s president decrees state of emergency over crime
October 19, 2021 GMTQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — President Guillermo Lasso decreed a state of emergency Monday to confront drug trafficking and other crimes in Ecuador, saying the military and police will take to the streets to provide security.
At least 116 dead in gang battle at Ecuador jail; 5 beheaded
September 30, 2021 GMTQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — A battle between gangs in a prison killed at least 116 people and injured 80 in what authorities are calling the worst penitentiary massacre in Ecuador's history. At least five dead were reported beheaded, officials said Wednesday.
Gang clash at Ecuador prison kills 24 inmates and injures 48
September 29, 2021 GMTQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — A riot in a penitentiary in coastal city of Guayaquil killed 24 inmates and injured 48 more Tuesday, Ecuadorian officials said.
A police and military operation managed to regain control of the Guayaquil prison after five hours, according to a statement from Ecuador’s prison service.
Ecuador president decrees emergency in prisons after clashes
July 23, 2021 GMTQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador's president declared a state of emergency Thursday in the country's prisons following fighting between rival gangs that killed 22 inmates and injured dozens.
The violence began Wednesday afternoon at the main prison in the city of Guayaquil, the Litoral Penitentiary, as well as at the Latacunga prison in central Ecuador, authorities said.
Former banker Guillermo Lasso becomes president in Ecuador
May 24, 2021 GMTQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Former banker Guillermo Lasso was sworn in as president of Ecuador on Monday, saying he will escalate efforts to vaccinate people to protect them from COVID-19 and work to revive an economy hit hard by the pandemic.
Ecuador’s high court backs decriminalizing abortion for rape
April 29, 2021 GMTQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador’s Constitutional Court ruled Wednesday in favor of decriminalizing abortion in cases of rape, a decision that paves the way for laws imposing prison sentences in such cases to be changed...
Ecuador picks conservative for president; Peru sets runoff
April 13, 2021 GMTQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador will be led for the next four years by a conservative businessman after voters rebuffed a left-leaning movement that yielded an economic boom and then a recession since taking hold of the presidency last decade...
Questions abound as Ecuador heads to presidential runoff
February 17, 2021 GMTQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador is headed toward a presidential runoff that so far has brought disappointing results for nearly all involved at a time when the country, battered by a sour economy even before the pandemic, has been struggling for direction...
Leftist leads in early returns for Ecuador presidential vote
February 8, 2021 GMTQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — A young leftist backed by a convicted-but-popular former president led the field of 16 candidates in early returns from Ecuador’s presidential election Sunday, which was held under strict sanitary measures due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Protests rattle Ecuador following election fraud claims
April 4, 2017 GMTQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Supporters of Ecuadorean opposition leader Guillermo Lasso gathered in the streets for a second night Monday to protest what they consider fraud at the ballot box that tilted a presidential runoff in favor of his leftist rival...
Leftist Moreno heading to disputed win in Ecuador election
April 3, 2017 GMTQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ruling party candidate Lenin Moreno looked headed to victory in Ecuador's presidential runoff Sunday but his rival refused to recognize the results, claiming he was the victim of fraud in what could set the stage for protests...