Quito (AP) -- The four main candidates in the Oct. 15 election for Ecuador's presidency. None is expected to win enough votes to avoid a runoff Nov. 26.
Rafael Correa, 43, a leftist economist who briefly served as economy minister, he holds a doctorate from the University of Illinois. He opposes a free trade deal with Washington, would cut Ecuador's ties with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and hold a referendum to rewrite Ecuador's constitution and reduce the power of traditional parties.
Leon Roldos, 64, an academic, former vice president and former legal adviser to banks, he is considered a moderate, pragmatic leftist and has a reputation for honesty. He is running as the candidate of a coalition that includes the Democratic Left, one of Ecuador's strongest parties.
Cynthia Viteri, 40, a lawyer, former TV reporter and news anchor, two-time congresswoman and one of Ecuador's most influential women. Strongly pro-business, she advocates a free trade pact with Washington. She belongs to the right-wing Social Christian Party, Ecuador's biggest, and is backed by powerful former President Leon Febres Cordero.
Alvaro Noboa, 55, Ecuador's wealthiest man. In 1994 he inherited a business empire from his father, banana magnate Luis Noboa. Educated as a lawyer, Noboa twice reached presidential runoffs and was defeated. |
