- Party Selects Replacement: Ecuador’s Assassinated Presidential Candidate Replaced Ahead of Election
- Controversial Succession: Widow Criticizes Party’s Choice for Replacement Candidate
- Ongoing Investigation: Six Suspects Charged in Connection to Villavicencio’s Assassination
Following the assassination of Mr. Villavicencio, a state of emergency was declared as the South American nation prepares for its election on Sunday.
A week before the election, the political party of the assassinated presidential candidate of Ecuador, Fernando Villavicencio, has chosen his replacement.
Mr. Villavicencio, 59, an ex-lawmaker and journalist with a history of exposing corruption, was gunned down last week as he left a campaign event in the capital Quito, even though he had a security detail provided by the government.
His Build party, or Construye, said on social media that Andrea Gonzalez would replace the deceased candidate on August 20.
Mrs. Villavicencio called the party’s replacement illegal and blamed the state for her spouse’s murder.
After arriving at the press conference with an armed police escort and donning a bullet-proof vest and helmet, Veronica Sarauz told reporters, “The government still needs to provide several explanations for everything that occurred.”
Ms. Sarauz called Gonzalez’s selection “arbitrary” and said it violated a law banning vice presidential hopefuls from leaving.
The party’s replacement candidates must still be approved by the national electoral council.
Six suspects, all Colombian nationals with ties to criminal organizations, have been charged with homicide.
A judge on Thursday ordered that they remain in custody while the ongoing criminal investigation continues.
Following Mr. Villavicencio’s assassination, the incumbent president Guillermo Lasso proclaimed three days of national mourning and a state of emergency, which included the deployment of additional military personnel throughout the country.
Mr. Villavicencio and environmental activist Ms. Gonzalez, a first-time candidate, ran in Mr. Lasso’s special election.
Even though ballots have already been printed, by law, Mr. Villavicencio’s votes will be transferred to the party candidate.
The 18 million-person South American nation has seen a spike in violence, including murder, in recent years.
Before his assassination, Mr. Villavicencio had been polling in the center of a field of eight candidates.
In addition to security, migration, and employment have emerged as significant campaign issues.
The South American nation will vote in open primaries on Sunday before the October general elections.
