Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos on Sunday congratulated Rafael Correa of Ecuador for his reelection as president.
In a Tweet, the center-right Santos wished his socialist counterpart “lots of success” in his third term.
Felicitaciones a Ecuador por la jornada democrática de hoy. Muchos éxitos al Pdte. Correa en su nuevo mandato.
— Juan Manuel Santos (@JuanManSantos) February 18, 2013
The left-wing Correa won Sunday’s elections in a landslide over his opponent, former banker Guillermo Lasso and now has the mandate to lead the country for a third consecutive term.
The two presidents have not always gone along well; after Colombia with Santos as defense minister attacked a FARC camp on Ecuadorean soil in early 2008, Correa broke all ties with the neighbor to the north. Since September 2009, the countries have slowly resumed relations.
NEWS ARCHIVE: Ecuador
While the Ecuadorean head of state has received praise for bringing political stability to a country that has had four president since the year 2000, opponents accuse Correa of being a dictator in the making.