Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was assassinated on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, by unidentified gunmen while at a political rally in the country’s capital of Quito. The shocking incident was captured on video and shared on social media, sparking outrage and grief among his supporters and fellow politicians.
Villavicencio, a former lawmaker and journalist who had been polling at 7.5%, was a leading anti-corruption campaigner and a vocal critic of former president Rafael Correa. He was one of eight candidates for the late August election, representing the Build Ecuador Movement.
President Guillermo Lasso confirmed the death of Villavicencio and said the crime “will not go unpunished”. He also expressed his solidarity and condolences to his wife and daughters. He said his security cabinet would meet shortly to address the situation.
A wave of violence
The killing of Villavicencio comes amid a startling wave of violence in the South American nation, with drug trafficking and killings on the rise. According to the National Police, there were 1,892 homicides in the first half of 2023, a 22% increase from the same period in 2022. The most affected provinces are Guayas, Pichincha, Manabí and Esmeraldas, where criminal gangs operate with impunity.
“Organized crime has gone too far, but they will feel the full weight of the law”, Lasso said, referring to the perpetrators of the crime. He also reiterated the need to act with a strong hand against crime and to strengthen the security forces.
The government has declared a state of emergency in several provinces and deployed more than 10,000 troops to combat drug trafficking and violence. However, some analysts say that these measures are insufficient and that more comprehensive policies are needed to address the root causes of insecurity, such as poverty, inequality and social exclusion.
A polarized election
The assassination of Villavicencio has also shaken the political landscape of Ecuador, which is preparing for a presidential election on August 27. The election was called by Lasso after he survived an impeachment process initiated by Villavicencio and other opposition lawmakers in June.
The impeachment was based on allegations that Lasso had violated the constitution by granting pardons to former officials convicted of corruption during Correa’s administration. Lasso denied any wrongdoing and accused Villavicencio of obstructing his government’s agenda.
The election is expected to be highly polarized, with Lasso facing a strong challenge from Correa’s ally and former vice president Jorge Glas, who is running for the Union for Hope coalition. Glas was released from prison in May after serving four years for his involvement in the Odebrecht bribery scandal. He maintains his innocence and claims to be a political prisoner.
Other candidates include Jan Topic, a businessman and former soccer player who is running for the Together We Can party; María Paula Romo, a lawyer and former interior minister who is running for the Democratic Left party; Carlos Pérez Guartambel, an Indigenous leader and environmental activist who is running for the Pachakutik party; and Xavier Hervas, an engineer and entrepreneur who is running for the Democratic Alliance party.
The latest polls show that Lasso has a slight lead over Glas, with 23% and 21% of voter intention respectively. Topic is third with 15%, followed by Romo with 12%, Pérez Guartambel with 9%, Hervas with 8% and Villavicencio with 7%. The remaining 5% are undecided or plan to vote blank or null.
