2023-08-10 07:21:00
The Prosecutor’s Office announces the death of a suspect in shooting the politician. Lasso shows his dismay and calls an emergency meeting with the state authorities.
10 ago 2023 . Updated at 07:29 h.
Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio He died this Wednesday after receiving three shots to the head after an attack by a group of hitmen during the end of an electoral rally in Quito, the country’s capital, ahead of the elections on August 20.
Villavicencio, a former trade unionist and candidate for the Construye Movement, has been transferred to the Women’s Clinic, where his death has been confirmed, as reported by his personal friend and campaign adviser, Dr. Carlos Figueroa, in statements collected by the newspaper The universe.
For its part, the Ecuadorian Prosecutor’s Office has announced the death of a suspect after being injured during the shootout between the hitmen and security personnel. A suspect, who was injured during the exchange of bullets with security personnel, was apprehended and transferred badly wounded to the Flagrancy Unit in Quito. An ambulance from the Fire Department confirmed his death. The Ecuadorian Police proceed with the removal of the body, the Prosecutor has published on its account on the social network X, formerly Twitter.
The shooting, which occurred at 6:20 p.m. (11:20 in mainland Spain), has left at least nine injuredamong whom are a candidate for the National Assembly and two police officers, as added by the Public Ministry.
Tireless fighter against mafias
The Construye Movement has expressed on the social network X its horror and pain at the death of Villavicencio, whom he has described as a tireless fighter against the mafias, and even went so far as to denounce his political connections. Keeping silent and hiding at a time when criminals murder citizens and authorities is an act of cowardice and complicity (…) I ratify my decision to continue in the daily fight until the mafias are defeated, Villavicencio declared when the party proposed to cancel the electoral campaign after the assassination of the mayor of Manta, Agustn Intriago, who was shot several times on July 24.
Outraged and shocked by the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. My solidarity and my condolences with his wife and his daughters. For his memory and for his fight, I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished, the president of the country has published, Guillermo Lassoin your X account.
The president has summoned the Security Cabinet, which will be attended by the president of the National Council of Ecuador (CNE), Diana Atamaint, the State Attorney General, Diana Salazar, the president of the National Court of Justice, Ivn Saquicela, and other state authorities . Organized crime has come a long way, but the full weight of the law is going to fall on them, added Lasso.
This assassination has already provoked reactions among numerous countries and regional organizations, which have expressed their condolences with Ecuador. The Electoral Observation Mission of the Organization of American States (OAS) has conveyed its dismay and pain at the savage murder of the presidential candidate, according to a statement.
In this regard, the OAS has urged all candidates to strengthen security measures in cooperation with the authorities, and has reaffirmed its commitment to support the country in defending democratic values.
The United States ambassador in Ecuador, Michael Fitzpatrick, has assured that he is deeply dismayed, and has described the presidential candidate as a fighter against corrupt and drug-criminals, and has offered his country’s help for the investigation.
The Government of Chile expresses its strong condemnation and profound repudiation of the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, which occurred today in Quito, and extends its condolences to the Ecuadorian Government and people and, in particular, to his family, the Chilean Presidency has stated in a statement. This unjustifiable fact reminds us of the importance of strengthening democratic coexistence and dialogue as a tool to fight intolerance and violence, the Government added.
The foreign ministries of Argentina, Peru and Guatemala have also joined in condemning this action, and have shown solidarity both with the people of Ecuador and with the Villavicencio family. We repudiate and condemn the assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. We are with the sister nation of Ecuador in this difficult moment, the president-elect of Paraguay, Santiago Pea, has published on social networks.
The current Paraguayan acting president, Mario Abdo, has expressed his solidarity at the same time that he has condemned the brutal murder.
Filed in: Ecuador
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