Ecuador’s Tense Vote Also Threatens to End Mining, Oil Projects
- Shutting an oil field in national park would hit Petroecuador
- General elections were upended by assassination of candidate
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While investors are focused on Ecuador’s tumultuous presidential election, two other measures on the ballot in the Aug. 20 vote will also shape the country’s financial future.
Ecuadorians are expected to vote in favor of referendums to order the closing of a major oil field and restrict gold and copper mining, potentially leaving the government with a large hole in its budget. The initiatives are taking place alongside a presidential race that was thrown into chaos last week when one of the leading candidates was assassinated while campaigning.