Fernando Villavicencio, an anti-corruption campaigner and lawmaker who was running for president in Ecuador, was assassinated on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at a campaign rally in Quito. He was shot by a gunman who later died in a shootout with the police. Villavicencio was 59 years old and had promised to crack down on crime and corruption in the country, which has been plagued by violence and drug trafficking. He was not a front-runner in the polls, but his death shocked the nation and the world, and prompted the government to declare a state of emergency and request help from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Six Colombian nationals arrested as suspects
The Ecuadorian authorities announced on Thursday that they had arrested six suspects in connection with the assassination of Villavicencio. According to the interior minister, Juan Zapata, the suspects are Colombian nationals and members of organized criminal groups. He did not specify which groups they belonged to or what their motives were. The police report said that the suspects were hiding in a house in Quito, where they found a rifle, a machine gun, four pistols, three grenades, two rifle magazines, four boxes of ammunition, two motorcycles, and a stolen vehicle. Zapata said that the killing was a “political crime of a terrorist nature” aimed at sabotaging the presidential election, which is scheduled for August 20.
Villavicencio’s campaign threatened drug cartels
Villavicencio was known for his outspoken criticism of the violence caused by drug cartels in Ecuador. He had said that his campaign represented a threat to such groups, and that he had received at least three death threats from affiliates of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel. He had also accused former president Rafael Correa of being involved in corruption and allowing drug trafficking to flourish in the country. Correa denied the allegations and condemned the assassination. Villavicencio had also proposed to reform the judicial system, fight tax evasion, and promote renewable energy.
International condemnation and calls for justice
The assassination of Villavicencio sparked an outpouring of condemnation from inside Ecuador and around the world. The UN Human Rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, said that she was “deeply saddened” by the killing and urged the authorities to conduct a “prompt, thorough and impartial investigation” to bring those responsible to justice. The United States and the European Union also expressed their condolences and solidarity with Ecuador. The former vice president of Ecuador and current presidential candidate, Otto Sonnenholzner, said in an interview with CNN that the level of violence in Ecuador was “something we have never seen before” and demanded action from the government.
Presidential election postponed until further notice
The National Electoral Council of Ecuador announced on Friday that it had decided to postpone the presidential election until further notice, due to the security situation and the mourning period for Villavicencio. The council said that it would consult with the political parties and civil society to determine a new date for the election. The council also called for calm and respect for democracy in this difficult time. The election was originally scheduled for August 20, after none of the candidates obtained more than 50% of the votes or 40% with a 10-point lead over the second-place contender in the first round held on February 19.
