Assassination of presidential candidate prompts Ecuador government to declare state of exception
Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso declared the continuity of presidential elections on August 20. He emphasized that the Armed Forces will be activated with the purpose of ensuring both the conduct of the elections and national security. This decision follows the tragic shooting of one of the presidential candidates in the city of Quito.
President of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, during an official statement — Photo Reproduction/Government of Ecuador
The Ecuadorian President, Guillermo Lasso, issued a state of emergency decree and ensured that presidential elections remain scheduled to take place on 20 August. Lasso made a statement during the early hours of Thursday (10), hours after the tragic shooting of one of the presidential candidates, Fernando Villavicencio, shortly after he left a rally in Quito.
The attack resulted in nine injured and led to the arrest of six individuals on suspicion of involvement in the case. A suspect was killed in an armed confrontation with police forces. President Lasso declared that, with the implementation of the state of emergency, the Armed Forces were mobilized to ensure both the conduct of the elections and national security. Lasso also stated that Ecuador will not give in to those who try to instill fear in the nation. The presidential leader declared that democratic structures will not bow to the dominance of organized crime.
"Faced with the loss of a democrat and a fighter, the elections are not suspended. On the contrary. They will be held, and democracy needs to be strengthened. This is the best reason to go vote and defend democracy," declared the president.
Itamaraty published a note conveying its condolences to the family, the government and the Ecuadorian population.
Attack on candidate
The criminal group known as "Lobos", one of the most influential in the country, claimed responsibility for the attack, claiming that this is a consequence of corrupt politicians who do not honor their commitments. In a released video, the criminal group claims that the former candidate received a multi-million sum by them, destined to finance his campaign.
According to Ecuadorian media reports, Fernando Villavicencio was shot three times in the head. after leaving the rally that took place in Quito last Wednesday (09). Videos that are circulating on social networks show the candidate leaving the rally site, being assisted by security agents as he enters a vehicle. Soon after, you can hear a sequence of firearm shots. Initial information indicates that three armed individuals directed the shots using machine guns.
Among the nine injured individuals, a candidate for the Chamber of Deputies and two members of the police force. According to statements by the Ecuadorian government, the criminals also used a grenade during the attack, but the device did not detonate.
The party to which Fernando Villavicencio was affiliated, Movimento Construye, in a statement via a post on a social network, said that the party headquarters was also the target of an attack perpetrated by armed men. Authorities pursued search operations in different neighborhoods of Quito, resulting in the arrest of six individuals. During the search of one of the identified residences, the authorities seized weapons and grenades.
Fernando Villavicencio
Before entering the political sphere, Fernando Alcibíades Villavicencio Valencia, 59, acted as an activist and journalist. He played a significant role as a member of the National Assembly, occupying that position from 2017 until ratification by the legislative body on May 17, 2023. During his time as a journalist, Villavicencio focused his efforts on allegations related to drug trafficking and corruption among the country's political elite, including complaints involving Ecuador's state oil company "Petroecuador", as well as issues involving the government of Rafael Correa.
Fernando Villavicencio, candidate for president of Ecuador - Photo Reproduction/Internet
In 2014, still working as a journalist, he was sentenced to an 18-month prison sentence, because the Ecuadorian Justice understood that he had committed insults against Correa. At the time, he had stated that the former president had given orders for an armed invasion of the police hospital, in the context of a police rebellion. Due to this situation, he was forced to seek refuge in Peru, becoming a political exile.
Between 2021 and 2023, he held the position of federal deputy, actively dedicating himself to the defense of indigenous social causes and workers' rights. During that time, he also positioned himself as an opponent of former President Rafael Correa. In the presidential race, a recent poll of voting intentions, released on Tuesday (8) by the newspaper "El Universo", placed Villavicencio in fifth place. Voting is scheduled to take place on August 20. Villavicencio was married to Verónica Sarauz and has five children.
