Lenin Moreno vs Ranil Wickremesinghe

Lenin Moreno won the 2017 presidential election as the candidate of the ruling PAIS Alliance, succeeding Rafael Correa. He took office on May 24, 2017, initially continuing Correa's policies before shifting to a more centrist and later conservative stance.

Moreno publicly broke with former president Correa, accusing him of corruption and mismanagement. He supported a referendum that limited presidential terms and allowed for Correa's prosecution, leading to a deep rift within the ruling party and a shift in Ecuador's political landscape.

In February 2019, Moreno's government signed a $4.2 billion loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund, requiring austerity measures including fuel subsidy cuts. This triggered massive protests in October 2019, leading to a state of emergency and the government's temporary relocation to Guayaquil.

As a key negotiator, Wickremesinghe helped finalize the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord, which aimed to end the Sri Lankan Civil War by devolving power to provinces and deploying Indian peacekeeping forces. The accord ultimately failed to bring lasting peace.

Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed Prime Minister of Sri Lanka by President D.B. Wijetunga, following the assassination of President Ranasinghe Premadasa. He led the United National Party government, beginning a long political career marked by multiple terms.

Wickremesinghe, as the UNP candidate, lost the presidential election to Mahinda Rajapaksa. The defeat was partly attributed to a boycott by the Tamil Tiger rebels, which suppressed voter turnout in the north and east. This loss kept him out of power for several years.

After the resignation of Mahinda Rajapaksa amid economic crisis, Wickremesinghe was appointed Prime Minister. He later became acting president and then president after Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country. His leadership focused on stabilizing the economy and securing an IMF bailout.