The assassination of Ecuadorean presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio less than two weeks before the election has caused shockwaves in the country. This incident has led some rivals to suspend their campaigning and has brought the issue of rising violence to the forefront. Villavicencio, known for his criticism of corruption and organized crime, was killed during a campaign event in northern Quito. The attorney general’s office reported that a suspect in the crime later died from injuries sustained in a shoot-out, and six others have been arrested. Additionally, nine people, including a candidate for the legislature and two police officers, were injured.
President Guillermo Lasso stated that the crime was clearly an attempt to sabotage the election. However, he emphasized that voting would proceed as planned on August 20, albeit under a national state of emergency. The military has been mobilized to ensure security. Lasso also declared three days of mourning.
Violence in Ecuador has been on the rise, particularly in cities along drug-trafficking routes like Guayaquil and Esmeraldas. Citizens in these areas have expressed living in fear. Similar issues have been observed in several Latin American countries since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Villavicencio’s party, Movimiento Construye, rejected the “political use” of his death and called for a prompt investigation. They condemned an unverified video circulating on social media, allegedly from a gang called Los Lobos, claiming responsibility for the killing. The video also alleged that Villavicencio had received millions of dollars from the gang for his campaign and threatened fellow candidate Jan Topic. The authenticity and origin of the video remain unconfirmed.
Los Lobos, a gang with thousands of members, is known for its presence in Ecuador’s violent prison system. Former President Rafael Correa, who faced criticism from Villavicencio during his presidency, reposted the video but later stated that it was fake without providing further details. Villavicencio had previously been sentenced to prison for defamation against Correa but had fled to Indigenous territory within Ecuador and later received asylum in Peru before returning after Correa left office.
Correa, who currently resides in Belgium, described Ecuador as a failed state and expressed hope that those who try to sow more hate with this tragedy will understand that it will only continue to destroy the country. Candidate Luisa Gonzalez, running for Correa’s party and leading in support, expressed horror at the killing but did not suspend her campaign. However, Indigenous candidate Yaku Perez and law-and-order hopeful Jan Topic both suspended their campaigns. Businessman Otto Sonnenholzner urged the government to take action.
Perez stated that he had spoken with Sonnenholzner and three minor candidates and left messages for Gonzalez and Topic. He expressed the intention to hold a meeting with candidates and the Catholic Church to discuss a “national security agreement” without providing further details. Villavicencio’s party had previously discussed the suspension of campaigning due to political violence, including the murder of the mayor of Manta in July. However, Villavicencio opposed the suspension, considering it an act of cowardice.
Villavicencio had made a report to the attorney general’s office about an oil business the day before his assassination, but no further details were made public. According to police figures, there were 3,500 violent deaths in Ecuador in the first half of the year, with nearly half occurring in Guayaquil. President Lasso, who called for early elections amid an impeachment bid against him, has faced criticism for failing to address the violence effectively. His government attributes the bloodshed to criminal infighting for control over drug trafficking routes used by Mexican cartels, the Albanian mafia, and others.
Apart from security concerns, employment and migration are significant issues in the presidential contest. Villavicencio, who had 7.5% support in polls, ranked fifth out of eight candidates. The assassination of Villavicencio has prompted condemnation from various countries, with calls for a thorough investigation.
