Ecuador judge orders González held in campaign finance probe

Ecuadorian opposition leader Luisa González was arrested in an investigation into alleged irregularities in financing her 2023 presidential campaign, and a judge ordered her to remain in pre-trial detention, according to reports published Thursday and Friday. The alleged financial violations have not been established in court. González has rejected the accusation and called the case political persecution. Ecuador’s Attorney General’s Office said seven people were under investigation over inconsistencies in campaign contributions and the lawful source of funds. The office said the inquiry concerns advertising spending during the 2023 campaign. It described approximately $500,000 as having been channelled through legal entities to pay for advertising, allegedly without disclosing the funds’ source or contributors. The office also said three people had been arrested and would face charges for alleged money laundering. It did not identify them fully. The reports do not establish whether González is among those three. González’s party, Citizen Revolution, and its leader, Gabriela Rivadeneira, condemned the arrest. Rivadeneira said the case was politically motivated and demanded...