The assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio this Wednesday afternoon in Quito put Ecuador in a state of dismay and high alert. The proximity of the elections that will decide on the successor to Guillermo Lasso on Sunday, August 20, and a deep security crisis that the authorities have not contained, exacerbate the circumstances of the attack, which took place after the candidate received threats from a Drug group denounced traffickers. The president referred directly to “organized crime” and convened his security cabinet. These are the keys to a fateful afternoon of Ecuadorian history.
The attempt
Fernando Villavicencio, 59 and a journalist by profession, had just attended a campaign rally for his candidacy, Movimiento Construye, at the Anderson School in the Ecuadorian capital. At 18:20 he left the building and went to his vehicle, surrounded by escorts. The assassin fired around 40 shots at the candidate. A few bullets hit him and he died shortly thereafter. Several companions were also injured. The alleged perpetrator died after an argument with security officials, the public prosecutor said.
The election campaign
What happened has significant repercussions on an already atypical election campaign. Outgoing President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the assembly three months ago and called for new elections to avoid a possible sacking. Villavicencio’s candidacy, which promised a strong hand against crime and zero tolerance for corruption, finished fourth or fifth in the polls, while the favorite is Luisa González, the candidate promoted by former President Rafael Correa. The vote actually opens the door for the left to return to power.
Fernando Villavicencio addresses his supporters at a rally. DECENTITY
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The Security Crisis
Ecuador is suffering from the worst security crisis in its recent history. The phenomenon was exacerbated during the Covid-19 pandemic and is largely due to disputes over drug trafficking routes between Mexican cartels. During the election campaign, the mayor of Manta, a major port, and a candidate for the assembly were assassinated. There have been riots and bomb attacks in recent weeks. The death toll is in the dozens, and although the violence has mostly affected the coast and metropolitan area of Guayaquil, it has also reached Quito.
the threats
Villavicencio had denounced threats from a group linked to the Sinaloa cartel. In particular, he had received intimidating messages from aka Fito, a criminal from a gang called Los Choneros. “If I keep mentioning the name Fito and the Choneros, they’re going to break me,” he warned. At the same time, he made it clear to them that he didn’t want to give in: “Here I show my face, I’m not afraid of them.” Los Choneros is a drug gang founded in the 1990s that today serves Sinaloa. The criminal organization, in turn, faces the Los Lobos, Tiguerones and Chone Killers groups, who work for the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel.
Experts work in the area where the candidate was attacked. KAREN TORO (Portal)
uncertainty
Villavicencio’s assassination now opens up a scenario of uncertainty with regard to the conduct of the elections. Some opposing candidates announced the suspension of the election campaign. President Lasso called on the country’s key authorities to face the crisis and promised to crack down on organized crime “with the full force of the law”. For now, the violence has stopped the country.
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