Reactions As Ecuador Presidential Candidate Is Shot Dead At Rally

Popular Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was shot dead on Wednesday while leaving a rally in the nation's capital, Quito.

Villavicencio, a 59-year-old anti-corruption crusader who had complained of receiving threats, was murdered as he was leaving a stadium in Quito after holding a campaign rally, officials said. President Guillermo Lasso declared a two-month state of emergency early Thursday following the assassination but said general elections slated for August 20 would be held as scheduled. "Outraged and shocked by the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio," the president said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, blaming the killing on "organised crime." "For his memory and for his fight, I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished." Villavicencio was the second most popular candidate in the presidential race, according to recent opinion polls. Lasso has said he will not seek re-election. President of the National Electoral Council, Diana Atamaint said: "The date of the elections scheduled for August 20 remains unalterable." Nine other people were injured in the shooting attack, including a candidate running for the national legislature and two policemen, prosecutors said. One of the alleged attackers was shot and killed by security personnel. And police detonated an explosive device planted in the area, said chief investigator Alain Luna. Carlos Figueroa, a friend of Villavicencio's who was with him at the time of the attack, told local media that the assailants fired around 30 shots. "They ambushed him outside" the sports centre, Figueroa said. "Some (of those present) even thought they were fireworks." The country's main newspaper, El Universo, reported that Villavicencio was assassinated "hitman-style and with three shots to the head." Prosecutors later said six other suspects were arrested in raids carried out in southern Quito and in a neighbouring town, and that Villavicencio's body was brought to a police department and would undergo an autopsy.

Villavicencio was a vocal critic of corruption

Villavicencio was a vocal critic of corruption and had written extensively about the subject. He had also served in parliament and was known for his outspokenness. In recent years, Ecuador has been hit by a wave of violence linked to drug trafficking which, in the midst of the electoral process, has already led to the death of a mayor and a parliamentary candidate. The homicide rate has doubled between 2021 and 2022. "Organised crime has gone too far, but the full weight of the law will be applied to them," Lasso said in his post.

International Condemnation of Ecuador Presidential Candidate Assassination

The United States, Spain, Chile and the Organisation of American States observer mission have also condemned the crime. "We are horrified by the tragic attack… Violence cannot win. Democracy can," European Union ambassador to Ecuador, Charles-Michel Geurts, said on X.

Villavicencio's family speaks out

Villavicencio's family has condemned the assassination and called for justice. "We will not rest until those responsible for this crime are brought to justice," his wife said in a statement. "Fernando was a man of peace and a defender of democracy. He was killed for his beliefs." The assassination of Fernando Villavicencio is a dark day for Ecuadorian democracy. He was a courageous man who stood up for what he believed in, even in the face of danger. His death is a reminder that the fight against corruption is still far from over.