Tense Election in Ecuador Following Assassination of Presidential Candidate
Ecuadorans are heading to the polls today for a high-stakes election just days after the assassination of a presidential candidate shocked the country and highlighted the escalating drug violence in the region. Fernando Villavicencio, who was shot in the head by a hitman while leaving a campaign rally, became the first presidential candidate to be assassinated in Ecuador. This event has brought the issue of drug violence to the forefront of the election cycle and has left citizens feeling concerned and fearful.
Ecuador is now a key transit point for drug trafficking due to its geographical position between the world’s two largest cocaine-producing nations, Colombia and Peru. Consequently, the country has become a battleground for violent criminal organizations, with Mexican cartels and Albanian mafias working alongside local groups to fight for control over smuggling routes. As a result, homicides have reached record levels, and residents are terrorized by car bombs, extortion, and kidnappings.
The violence has now seeped into the political sphere, causing unease among voters as they prepare to choose a leader who will address the crisis. Despite the risk, the remaining candidates have shifted their campaign strategies to focus on tough-on-crime approaches, such as boosting police capabilities and eradicating corruption in the country. However, some analysts argue that these candidates lack a clear strategy beyond relying on a heavy-handed approach.
With the short 18-month remaining term of current President Guillermo Lasso, the next president will have limited time to implement solutions to the security crisis. To win outright in today’s election, a candidate needs to secure over 50 percent of the vote or at least 40 percent with a 10-point lead over the closest rival. However, due to tight polling numbers and a crowded field of candidates, a runoff election is likely to take place on October 15.
Currently, three candidates are leading in the polls out of a total of eight contenders: Luisa González, a leftist ally of former president Rafael Correa; Otto Sonnenholzner, a former vice president; and Jan Topic, a businessman running for the first time. González initially held a substantial lead, riding on the popularity of Correa’s party. However, her position has slipped since the assassination, with more right-leaning candidates promising tough measures against crime gaining support.
It is worth noting that Villavicencio’s name will still appear on the ballot as the electoral council had already printed them before his death. This series of political assassinations leading up to the election has drawn concerns from officials who fear violence could continue or resurface on election day. Security forces, including around 100,000 personnel, have been deployed across the country to ensure a peaceful voting process. However, some voters remain fearful and uncertain about the ability of the candidates to address the violence that plagues the country.