Former vice president of Ecuador to seek presidency in August elections

Otto Sonnenholzner, former vice president of Ecuador (2018-2020), confirmed his pre-candidacy for the presidency of the South American country in the early general elections to be held next August 20.

“Although this decision affects my family, I feel the obligation to put my experience and capabilities at the service of the welfare of all. Today I accept the candidacy for the Presidency of the Republic,” Sonnenholzner said in a video shared on his social networks.

He indicated that he decided “with conviction and commitment” with “the objective of solving problems and making good things happen.”

“I know that we are all concerned about the current serious crisis, precisely because of this, is that we must make a collective commitment,” said Sonnenholzner, who was vice president between December 11, 2018 and July 10, 2020 in the previous government of Lenín Moreno.

Sonnenholzner, who is a businessman, broadcaster and economist, will participate in the extraordinary elections with the backing of the political parties Izquierda Democrática, Avanza and SUMA.

The 40 year old pre-candidate has been away from public office and recently returned to Ecuador after obtaining a Master’s degree in Public Administration at Harvard Kennedy School in the United States.

Ecuador will hold new presidential and legislative elections after the current president Guillermo Lasso dissolved the National Assembly (Congress) on May 17, in the midst of a political trial for alleged embezzlement that he was facing in Parliament, where the opposition was seeking his removal from office.

To this end, Lasso decreed the “cross death”, a constitutional figure that also allows him to call early general elections and rule by decree for six months after a ruling by the Constitutional Court.

The president elected in the new elections must complete Lasso’s term of office, which was to end in May 2025.

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