November 21, 2006

Abstract: - Support for Álvaro Noboa fell before this Sunday's ballot in Ecuador, according to a poll by Cedatos/Gallup. 52 per cent of decided voters would back the Institutional Renewal Party of National Action (PRIAN) candidate in the second round of the presidential election.

- Support for Álvaro Noboa fell before this Sunday's ballot in Ecuador, according to a poll by Cedatos/Gallup. 52 per cent of decided voters would back the Institutional Renewal Party of National Action (PRIAN) candidate in the second round of the presidential election.

Former economy minister Rafael Correa of Alliance Country (AP) is in second place with 48 per cent, up seven points since late October.

In the first round, held on Oct. 15, Noboa garnered 26.8 per cent of the vote, while Correa got 22.8 per cent. Since no contender received more than 50 per cent of all cast ballots, a run-off was scheduled for Nov. 26.

Last year, public protests against the elected government intensified after the Supreme Court threw out pending charges of corruption and mishandling of funds against former presidents Abdalá Bucaram and Gustavo Noboa. In mid-April, then-president Lucio Gutiérrez instituted a 24-hour state of emergency. The National Congress later voted to oust the head of state and replace him with vice-president Alfredo Palacio.

Yesterday, Correa questioned Ecuador's Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), declaring, "This body is dominated by the Social Christian Party (PSC) and Álvaro Noboa. These people are shameless, and have already stolen 400,000 votes in our favour during the first round. They have no moral superiority to be the guarantors of this election."

Polling Data

Who would you vote for in the second round of the presidential election?
(Valid votes)

	Nov. 13	Oct. 30	Oct. 22
Álvaro Noboa (PRIAN)	52%	59%	58%
Rafael Correa (AC)	48%	41%	42%

Source: Cedatos/Gallup
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews with 5,390 Ecuadorian adults, conducted from Nov. 11 to Nov. 13, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.