Correa boasts of 'crushing victory' in constitutional vote

25 minutes ago

GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador (AFP) — President Rafal Correa said Sunday his constitutional referendum won a "crushing victory," after exit polls showed some 66 to 70 percent of Ecuadorans voted for his socialist blueprint.

Before the plebiscite, Correa had expressed hope for solid "yes" vote, as he endeavors to usher in what he has called a "21st century socialism," and to more closely align his country with leftist allies Venezuela and Bolivia.

Nearly 10 million Ecuadorans were eligible to vote for the new constitution Correa opponents have criticized for ushering in unprecedented presidential powers and government control of the economy