Colombia's interventionism in Ecuador's elections rejected

Quito, February 14 (RHC)-- Former Latin American presidents have rejected the interference shown by Colombia's attorney general, Francisco Barbosa, in Ecuador's elections, and in opposition to presidential candidate Andres Arauz, winner of the first electoral round.

The former president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, stated on his Twitter account: "We reject the interventionist and intimidating action by the Attorney General of Colombia against the winning candidate of the elections in Ecuador, Andres Arauz."  Evo Morales said that Barbosa, "with false accusations of illicit financing, tries to affect his triumph in (the) second round," scheduled for next April 11.

We reject the interventionist and intimidating action by the Attorney General of Colombia against the winning candidate of the #Ecuador elections, @ecuarauz, who with false accusations of illicit financing tries to affect his triumph in the second round.

- Evo Morales Ayma (@evoespueblo) February 13, 2021

Arauz, candidate of the opposition alliance UNES, received more than 3,077,000 votes in the February 7 elections, 32.06 percent, and is awaiting an opponent from Yaku Pérez and Guillermo Lasso, who are competing for second place.

The Colombian attorney general traveled last Friday to Quito to deliver to his Ecuadorian counterpart alleged information found in computers of the slain guerrilla chief of the National Liberation Army (ELN), alias Uriel, which would point to alleged financing for Arauz.

The alleged information about @ecuarauz's links to the ELN is infamy. pic.twitter.com/NJNHWne4B5

- Ernesto Samper P. (@ernestosamperp) February 13, 2021
The former president of Colombia, Ernesto Samper, affirmed in a tweet that the alleged information about links of the Unes presidential aspirant with the ELN "are an infamy".

"They are part of a dirty game being orchestrated from Colombia by the radical sectors of the right wing of both countries to interfere in the second round of the Ecuadorian presidential elections", assured the former president (1994-1998).

The Puebla Group strongly rejects the attempt to link Andrés Arauz with the National Liberation Army https://t.co/y31en7G25t

- Puebla Group (@ProgresaLatam) February 13, 2021

The Puebla Group, which brings together several former presidents of the region, including Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva, issued a statement in which it "categorically rejects the attempt to link Andrés Arauz with the National Liberation Army."

Arauz, who was minister coordinator of Knowledge and Human Talent during the government of Rafael Correa (2007-1017), denounced a media campaign against him.

Those who have co-governed with Moreno know they are losers and are pressuring to persecute me with crude lies. They will not be able to achieve it, the truth always prevails.

They will not be able to continue blackmailing or deceiving the justice system.  The Ecuadorian people will not allow a new coup to democracy.

- Andrés Arauz (@ecuarauz) February 13, 2021

"Those who have co-governed with (President Lenín) Moreno know they are losers and are pressuring to persecute me with crude lies. They will not be able to achieve it, the truth always prevails," the presidential hopeful expressed in a tweet.

"They will not be able to continue blackmailing or deceiving justice.  The Ecuadorian people will not allow a new blow to democracy," he said.