EU observers “categorically” reject Ecuador election fraud allegations

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By Alexandra Valencia

QUITO (Reuters) -European Union observers said on Tuesday that they “categorically” reject allegations of fraud in Ecuador’s Sunday presidential elections, joining a chorus of rejections of leftist Luisa Gonzalez’s call for a recount.

Electoral authorities, the Organization of American States, the United States and members of Gonzalez’s own party have said that President Daniel Noboa secured a full term in the vote.

Noboa’s lead of more than 1 million votes was a surprising sweep, after a tight February first round when he finished ahead by just over 16,700 votes.

“We categorically reject the repeated narrative of fraud which has lead the (Citizens’ Revolution) candidate not to recognize the results,” said the head of the EU’s observation mission, Gabriel Mato, during a press conference.

His team have not seen any evidence of manipulation or credible reports of fraud, Mato said, adding Ecuadoreans had voted freely.

There is work to be done for future contests, however, to ensure campaign donations are tracked properly, he said.

Indigenous party Pachakutik, which had backed Gonzalez, said in a statement early on Tuesday it recognized Noboa’s victory and hoped campaign pledges would be implemented for the good of the country.

Gonzalez has not appeared publicly since Sunday night, nor provided details of what she said was a “grotesque” fraud.

Ecuador’s international dollar bonds, which rose sharply in price on Monday on the back of Noboa’s reelection, continued to gain on Tuesday. The 2030 note was last traded at 73.5 cents on the dollar, up 2.75 cents, after a 17-cent Monday rally.

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; additional reporting by Rodrigo CamposWriting by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)