1691630319 Presidential candidate shot dead after meeting in Ecuador

Presidential candidate shot dead after meeting in Ecuador

A presidential candidate in Ecuador, Fernando Villavicencio, was shot dead at the end of an election rally in Quito on Wednesday evening, Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso announced

Presidential candidate shot dead after meeting in Ecuador

AFP

Mr Villavicencio, a 59-year-old centrist, was one of eight candidates in the first round of presidential elections scheduled for August 20.

According to the latest polls, Fernando Villavicencio ranked second in terms of voting intentions, with around 13%, behind lawyer Luisa Gonzalez, who is close to former leftist President Rafael Correa.

“I am outraged and shocked by the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio,” President Lasso wrote on X, the social network’s new name. “I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished,” he promised.

“Organized crime is very advanced, but the full force of the law will fall on them,” he added.

Mr. Lasso urgently called a meeting of senior security officials that evening.

In recent years, Ecuador has faced a wave of drug-related violence that has resulted in the deaths of a mayor and a parliamentary candidate in the middle of the electoral process.

The President of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Diana Atamaint, also pointed out on Wednesday that several members of this body responsible for monitoring the election process had received death threats.