Assassination of Presidential Candidate Villavicencio Sours Election
Ecuador in Turmoil
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August 10, 2023
The assassination of Ecuadorean presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has left the nation in a state of shock, grief, and political chaos, media reports explained.
With rising drug-related violence already a significant concern, the murder has further stirred fear and outrage in the country, leading some candidates to suspend their campaigns.
Villavicencio, known for his relentless critique of corruption and organized crime, was slain on Wednesday night during an evening campaign rally in northern Quito. In a subsequent shootout, one suspect died, and six others have been detained. Nine individuals were injured, including two police officers and a legislative candidate.
President Guillermo Lasso, who declared three days of mourning, characterized the killing as a clear attempt to sabotage the election. However, he insisted that the August 20th vote would proceed under a national state of emergency, with the military ensuring security.
Anger erupted among Villavicencio's supporters, who directed their ire towards former President Rafael Correa. Villavicencio had been an outspoken critic of Correa's administration, leading to an 18-month prison sentence for defamation. Although he fled to Indigenous territory and sought asylum in Peru, he returned after Correa's departure from office.
Correa, who now resides in Belgium, responded to the murder, stating on social media platform X, "Ecuador has become a failed state." He urged against using the tragedy to breed further hatred.
Among the presidential contenders, Indigenous candidate Yaku Perez and law-and-order advocate Jan Topic suspended their campaigns. Meanwhile, Luisa Gonzalez, running for Correa's party and leading in the polls, expressed horror but continued her campaign. Businessman Otto Sonnenholzner urged the government to take decisive action.
The Lasso administration, which has been battling an escalating wave of violence linked to Mexican cartels, the Albanian mafia, and other criminal networks, faces an uphill struggle. The president has pinpointed criminal infighting as the root cause of the increased violence on the streets and in prisons but has had difficulty controlling the problem.
As the nation wrestles with concerns over security, employment, and migration, Villavicencio's party, Movimiento Construye, revealed that there had been recent discussions about suspending campaigns due to political violence. However, Villavicencio opposed the suspension, calling it an act of cowardice.
The tragic incident brings into focus the complex political climate in Ecuador and the broader challenges of governance and security. The assassination of a presidential candidate has not only exposed the fault lines in the nation's politics but also raises questions about the stability of democracy in the region.
With Villavicencio holding a 7.5% support in polls, his death has reshuffled the electoral landscape, creating uncertainty and tension as the country heads towards a crucial election. The impact of this event will undoubtedly resonate far beyond Ecuador's borders, casting a shadow over South American politics and setting a somber tone for the final stretch of an already contentious campaign season.