Ecuador Prosecutors Search Polling Firm Following Election

Ecuadorean prosecutors and police on Friday searched the office of a Gallup polling affiliate whose presidential election exit poll fueled protests by projecting a six-point win for the losing opposition candidate.

The New York Times - The Associated Press 11/04/2017

Ecuadorean prosecutors and police on Friday searched the office of a Gallup polling affiliate whose presidential election exit poll fueled protests by projecting a six-point win for the losing opposition candidate.

An exit poll by Cedatos and two other firms showed conservative banker Guillermo Lasso winning Sunday's race. Official results wound up showing him losing by two points to ruling-party candidate Lenin Moreno.

Outgoing President Rafael Correa accused people close to Lasso's campaign of hiring Cedatos to intentionally spread false results and sow confusion.

Cedatos executive president Polibio Cordoba said in an interview with Notimundo radio that the firm has nothing to hide.

"If honesty brings us to this point, then this is the price of honesty," he said.

Officials are barred by law from describing ongoing investigations, but the raid appeared to be linked to a formal complaint by a governing party lawmaker, congressional Vice President Rosana Alvarado, which echoed the president's allegation.