ECUADORIAN president-elect Guillermo Lasso has called for tougher measures against Venezuela in one of his first foreign policy statements following his shock election victory on Sunday.

The former banker echoed US calls for pressure to be put on the government of President Nicolas Maduro to guarantee “real democracy” in Venezuela.

Speaking in an interview on Colombian radio station La FM on Tuesday, Mr Lasso said that, while he insists on “diplomacy and dialogue,” he believes that the international community must take action.