The leftist Luisa González, who won the first presidential round in Ecuador and will run in the runoff on October 15, denounced this Friday that she was threatened with death and that she had agreed to receive military protection during the Election campaign is overshadowed by the murder of a candidate.
“Today I received death threats because I am the candidate most likely to win the presidency,” the candidate said in a statement from her Citizens Revolutionary Movement, referring to former socialist President Rafael Correa (2007-2017).
González came first in the early presidential election on August 20 with 34% of the valid votes and, according to official results, will face the right-wing Daniel Noboa, who came second with 23%, in the second round.
Centrist candidate Fernando Villavicencio was shot dead on August 9 as he left a rally in Quito. The former investigative journalist was one of the favorites of the election.
According to González, the prosecutor’s office is investigating a person who “claimed to have bombs to kill his life,” which is why he needs to strengthen his security system.
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“I have some sad news to tell you. I wear a bulletproof vest,” the Korreista said, according to the statement. In addition, he accepted the offer of the government, which promised to provide military protection to the final candidates, he added.
Noboa, son of one of Ecuador’s richest men, scored a surprise result in the August 20 election. After Villavicencio’s killing, the right-winger said he received threats and appeared in the Aug. 13 presidential debate wearing a bulletproof vest, which analysts said catapulted him into the runoff.
Ecuador is facing an onslaught of violence linked to the drug trade, which controls prisons and fights the drug market with blood and fire.
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Between Wednesday and Thursday, two car bombs exploded in Quito, targeting prison authorities and leaving no victims.
The new president will complete the current four-year term (until May 2025) after right-wing leader Guillermo Lasso dissolved the opposition-majority Congress in May to escape a serious political crisis that led to early parliamentary elections.