There have been protests in Ecuador after vote counting in the country’s presidential election dragged into a third day.

Leftist Lenin Moreno took the lead in Ecuador’s presidential election, but “perhaps not enough to win outright”.

Primary elections have begun in France as the Socialist Party attempts to find a candidate for this year’s presidential race.

Quito (Ecuador) - A little more than a month before the presidential elections to be held on February 19, 2017 (see Fides 24/10/2016), the Ecuadorian Bishops' Conference issued a pastoral letter, sent to Agenzia Fides, where it asks several commitments to society in general. Among the demands there is the need for a "moral regeneration in politics" for the future of the Country and to fight corruption.

Bolivian President Evo Morales has agreed to run for a fourth term in office.

The world’s business leaders are busy assessing whether their companies will gain or suffer from US presidential election winner Donald Trump’s proposed policy changes.

Caracas (Venezuela) - Venezuela’s state governorship elections are being carried over to next year instead of being held in December.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CDU party has suffered its second election blow in two weeks, slumping to its lowest level since 1990.

Caracas (Venezuela) - In Venezuela, further protests have been held against President Nicolas Maduro’s rule, though far smaller than the huge opposition march seen earlier this month.

French president François Hollande has spoken in Paris on the theme of democracy in the face of terrorism.