Indigenous activist and former prefect of Azuay Province, Yaku Pérez Guartambel is the candidate for the Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement – New Country (MUPP).[41] Molecular biologist Virna Cedeño Escobar decided to accept the offer to be the party's candidate for vice president after first being reluctant.[42] Pérez states that he is from "the ecological left that defends the rights of people and nature and understands indigenous communities", and positions himself as giving voters an alternative to the "authoritarian and corrupt left" of former president Correa.[43] Pérez has proposed a ban on all mining activity and to limit oil extraction, and has been critical of China's policies around extractivism and human rights.[30][43] He has promised to review the agreements with the IMF, and to not pay any "illegitimate debt", refusing to meet with IMF officials when they visited the country in September.[44] In an interview, he has expressed openness to a trade deal with the United States under the right conditions.[45][43] He has expressed support for allowing abortion in cases of rape or when there are serious risk to the health of the mother or fetus, suggesting a referendum on the issue.[40] His economic plan included universal basic income.[46][44]