An opposition candidate in Ecuador’s upcoming presidential election, Fernando Villavicencio, was assassinated at a campaign event.
Villavicencio was shot dead at a Movimiento Construye political rally at a school north of the capital Quito, campaign team members Cristian Zurita and Rodrigo Figueroa told CNN.
He was gunned down 10 days before the first round of the presidential election was set to take place on August 20.
President Lasso said he is “outraged and shocked” by Villavicencio’s killing. Lasso said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
My solidarity and condolences to his wife and his daughters. For his memory and his fight, I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished.”
The President said he has called an urgent meeting of his security cabinet to discuss the killing.
Organized crime has come a long way, but the full weight of the law will fall on them.”
In an interview with CNN En Español Conclusiones in May, Villavicencio addressed the violence caused by drug trafficking in the country, saying Ecuador had become a “narco state.”
Villavicencio proposed to restore security with the armed forces and the police in the streets and lead a fight against what he called the “political mafia.”
Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio has been assassinated at a campaign event, according to authorities https://t.co/EQcoqD0dCJ
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) August 10, 2023
BREAKING: As seen in the video below, Fernando Villavicencio, the right-winged candidate running for President of Ecuador, has just been assassinated during a presidential rally in Quito. He was reportedly shot 3 times in the head.
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) August 10, 2023
Villavicencio has reportedly died on the… pic.twitter.com/J4HfSjDbBX
🚨 Presidential candidate. Ecuador. Political opponents. Cabal intel:#BREAKING Ecuadorian Presidential Candidate Fernando Villavicencio assassinated at the campaign event
— WayneTech SPFX®️ (@WayneTechSPFX) August 10, 2023
The candidate was assassinated on live TV.
Cabal has stepped up attacks in every way globally. If… pic.twitter.com/zEHwAgXwLc
(via CNN)
