Rafael Correa promised “another four years of revolution” after being re-elected for a third term as president of Ecuador.
After winning more than 50 per cent of the vote in yesterday’s elections, he made a victory speech outside the presidential palace in the capital, Quito, in which he promised to continue to wage a socialist revolution while also wooing foreign investors.
“Nobody can stop this revolution,” said the 49-year-old economist. “The colonial powers are not in charge any more — you can be sure that in this revolution it’s Ecuadoreans who are in charge.
“We are here to serve you. Nothing for us, everything for you: the people who deserve the right to be free.
“We will be present wherever we can be useful, wherever we can best serve our fellow citizens and our Latin American brothers. This is not just a victory for Ecuador, this is a victory for the great homeland of Latin America.”
Mr Correa is fervently against the free-market reforms promoted by the United States and in favour of state-driven economies and expanding ties with China. He has been in office for six years.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has returned from Cuba after receiving treatment there for cancer. In three messages posted on Twitter, Mr Chavez, 58, who has been in power for 14 years, thanked Cuban president Raúl Castro and former leader Fidel Castro.
He said he would continue treatment in Venezuela. Mr Chavez was re-elected for another six-year term last October but his swearing-in was delayed because of his illness.
