Ecuador holds elections on August 20 despite murder of candidate

Ecuador’s President, Guillermo Lasso, confirmed that the scheduled elections for August 20th would proceed despite the tragic killing of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio at the age of 59.

Villavicencio was fatally shot during a political event in Quito on August 9, 2023.

In response to the incident, a 60-day state of emergency has been declared throughout the country.

Lasso emphasized, “The Armed Forces are deployed nationwide to ensure citizen safety, national stability, and the fair and democratic elections on August 20th.”

This decisive action was taken after a meeting with the Government’s Security Council, which assessed the crime’s impact, particularly given the upcoming general elections on August 20th, merely ten days away.

The announcement addresses the rise in criminal activities threatening citizens’ safety and lives.

Under the state of emergency, the Armed Forces will join the Police in restoring public order and dealing with incidents that infringe on individual rights.