Ecuador's Guillermo Lasso wins presidential election

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2. You're welcome, Judi. After 4 years of Moreno (the 'Trump of the Andes'), here's hoping Lasso

will at least be an improvement over that.

Electing a known fraudster certainly isn't promising (as your excellent recent find spelled out in such detail: https://www.democraticunderground.com/110875793) - but of course, people will surprise you sometimes.

Still waiting on results from neighboring Perú, where labor leader Pedro Castillo appears to have pulled ahead of the crowded (18-candidate) field.

But with only 18%, he would certainly face a runoff (on June 6th) - and a lot will depend on who the other choice is.

Exit polls suggest it'll be either pro-business economist Hernando de Soto or (wouldn't you know it) Keiko Fujimori.

I was waiting for more solid data before updating the Perú story - and that probably won't be available until Monday at least. Things are getting interesting - as they so often do in South America (as you know!).

Have a nice evening, Judi, and a great week.