In the wake of the tragic passing of Ecuador’s presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio on August 9th due to a violent incident, the center-right ‘Construye’ movement announced Andrea González as his successor for the upcoming snap general elections on August 20th.
The political entity confirmed González’s selection in a statement, highlighting her previous position as the vice-presidential candidate alongside Villavicencio.
The 36-year-old, who specialized in technological management with an environmental focus, will now spearhead the campaign.
According to Ecuador’s Election Law, a presidential ticket is seen as a “solo candidacy.”
As such, ‘Construye’ has positioned González as the primary candidate, and the selection of her vice-presidential running mate will be revealed soon, chosen from among those closely aligned with Villavicencio’s ideals.
Diana Atamaint, the head of the National Electoral Council (CNE), previously clarified that the Election Law permits a candidate’s replacement given unforeseen circumstances, provided all legal timelines and processes are adhered to.
Importantly, any votes cast for the deceased candidate will be allocated to their replacement.
González’s nomination comes just two days before the mandatory presidential debate hosted by the CNE, aimed at ensuring an informed electorate.
Scheduled to last three hours, the discussion will touch on vital issues, including the country’s current security challenges amidst rising violence linked to drug trafficking.