In the run-off election between the two presidential candidates who garnered the most votes in the first voting round, Jamil Mahuad obtained a clear majority over Alvaro Noboa; in the first round, Mahuad obtained 35.36 per cent of the vote, while Alvaro Noboa obtained 26.88 of the total (Hoy July 1998).

The final results of the 1998 general elections resulted in 36 congressional seats for Democracia Popular (DP), 26 for the Partido Social Cristiano (PSC) and 23 for the Partido Roldosista Ecuatoriano (PRE) (ibid.)

No reports of an alliance between the DP and either of the two main parties could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Hoy [Quito]. July 1998. "Elecciones '98." [Internet] http://www.hoy.net/ed-html/temas/elec98/resul22.htm [Accessed 4 Sept. 1998]