Guillermo Lasso: Ecuador's new leader faces uphill struggle

SharecloseShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingimage copyrightEPA

Guillermo Lasso has been sworn in as Ecuador’s president.

The 65-year-old conservative former banker defeated left-wing rival Andrés Arauz in a closely fought run-off election on 11 April.

He has taken up office amid one of the worst economic crises ever to confront the Andean nation, which is still grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Lasso has pledged to attract more investment to the oil sector and to kickstart the stagnated economy.

Slow progress on vaccines

Ecuador’s Covid ordeal attracted