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Candidates for the Presidency of Ecuador in the next extraordinary general elections of August 20 expressed their dismay and indignation at the murder of their rival Fernando Villavicenciowho was shot as he was leaving an electoral rally in Quito.
A few minutes after confirming the death of the journalist and former assemblyman, the other seven presidential candidates expressed their condolences and solidarity with the families, friends and loved ones of Villavicencio.
LOOK HERE: Ecuador: video captures the moment of the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio
the former vice president Otto Sonnenholzner expressed his “deepest condolences and deep sympathy” and desire “may God keep him in his glory”.
Our deepest condolences and deep solidarity with the loved ones of Fernando Villavicencio. May God keep him in his glory.
Our country has gotten out of hand.
—Otto Sonnenholzner (@ottosonnenh) August 9, 2023
“Our country has gotten out of hand”, assured Sonnenholzner in reference to the crisis of insecurity that he is going through from Ecuador and that it has practically monopolized the debate of the electoral campaign.
For his part, Luisa Gonzalezcandidate for the Citizen revolutionthe party led by the former president Rafael Correa (2007-2017), indicated that he received “with indignation, impotence and deep sadness the terrible news of the attack that caused the death of Fernando Villavicencio”.
With indignation I receive the terrible news of the attack that caused the death of Fernando Villavicencio, this brings mourning to all of us, my supportive hug to all his family and co-idearies.
This vile act will not go unpunished!— Luisa González (@LuisaGonzalezEc) August 10, 2023
“My supportive hug to all his family and co-idearies. This vile act will not go unpunished!”, González said of Villavicencio, who had established himself as one of the main detractors of former President Correa with corruption accusations involving his administration.
On his side, the leftist and environmentalist Yaku Perez It showed itself “shocked by the tragic and condemnable murder of Fernando Villavicencio”.
Yaku Pérez, presidential candidate, reported that he was suspending his electoral campaign after the assassination of candidate Fernando Villavicencio, on August 9, 2023. Pérez invited the other candidates to a “social pact” in Quito to take action in the face of insecurity. pic.twitter.com/e8boNfyKe5
– BN (@BNPeriodismo) August 10, 2023
“My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. This fact will not go unpunished, Ecuador does not deserve one more death, it is time to unite and recover peace”, Perez pointed out.
In the same sense, the businessman and security specialist expressed Jan Topicwho stated that he regrets “deeply as Ecuadorian” the deadly attack suffered by Villavicencio.
“Today more than ever the need to act with a strong hand against crime is reiterated. May God have him in his gloryTopic remarked.
MORE INFORMATION: Lasso assures that “the full weight of the law will fall” on the assassins of the candidate Fernando Villavicencio
Meanwhile, the businessman and former assemblyman Daniel Noboa I affirm that “This is an attack against the country, democracy and peace of all Ecuadorians”.
Meanwhile, the businessman and politician Xavier Hervas assured that Ecuador “has reached a critical point” in the security crisis with the assassination of a presidential candidate like Villavicencio.
“This is one more Ecuadorian who has fallen victim to organized crime. We join his family, friends and co-ideators in prayer. Today is a black day for democracy. A day of mourning for Ecuador”, asserted Hervás.
The independent lawyer agreed with this Bolivar Armijoswho stated that “Ecuador is in mourning, the country is bleeding to death with so much violence and insecurity”.
Villavicencio was assassinated when he was shot by unknown persons at the exit of an electoral rally of his campaign in a central sector of Quito.
The candidate, who like other applicants had police protection, had denounced death threats against him in previous days.
The murder of Villavicencio leaves an electoral campaign stained with more blood where the security crisis practically dominated the political debate and the proposals of the candidates.
ALSO SEE: Ecuador: the profile of the eight candidates seeking to succeed Lasso in the early elections
In previous weeks, the mayor of Blanket, Augustine Intriagoand a candidate for assembly from the northern province of emeralds.
Ecuador has been experiencing the worst security crisis and violence from organized crime in its history for just over two years, which led it to close 2022 with the highest rate of violent deaths in its history, registering 25.32 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The vast majority of these intentional homicides are associated, according to the Government, to organized crime and drug trafficking, which has gained strength on the coast and has turned Ecuadorian ports into large springboards for cocaine that reaches Europe and North America.
Source: Elcomercio
I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.
