Candidate Fernando Villavicencio Shot Dead at Campaign Rally in Ecuador
Tragedy struck in Ecuador on Wednesday as presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was shot dead at a campaign rally in the city of Quito. Villavicencio, a member of the national assembly, was leaving the event when he was attacked by an assailant who shot him in the head. Witnesses reported that he was shot multiple times.
The suspect, involved in an exchange of gunfire with security personnel, was also shot and later succumbed to his injuries, according to the country’s attorney general. Current president Guillermo Lasso expressed his outrage and vowed that the “crime will not go unpunished.”
The incident comes just days before the scheduled first round of the presidential election on August 20. Although Villavicencio was not the frontrunner, his campaign focused on tackling corruption and environmental destruction, with a background as a journalist.
Recent violence in Ecuador, fueled by the presence of drug cartels, has been a significant issue in this year’s presidential campaign. Last month, President Lasso declared states of emergency and implemented night curfews in three provinces following a series of killings linked to organized crime.
The news of Villavicencio’s tragic death has prompted an outpouring of condolences from political figures. Former vice president and fellow candidate Otto Sonnenholzner conveyed his deepest condolences and solidarity to Villavicencio’s family, stating, “Our country has gotten out of hand.” Frontrunner Luisa Gonzales also expressed her sympathy and stressed that this “vile act will not go unpunished.”
As Ecuador mourns the loss of a candidate who sought to address critical issues, the nation’s focus now turns to the upcoming election and the need for increased security measures to combat the growing threat of organized crime.