Ecuador Presidential Candidate Shot Dead by Assailant at Campaign Rally Two Weeks Before Vote

Opposition Candidate Fernando Villavicencio Dies
Unclear Motive Behind Shooting... Possible Drug Cartel Involvement

A presidential candidate running in the presidential election in Ecuador, South America, was shot and killed by an assailant at a campaign rally just two weeks before the election day. Amid ongoing political instability, the death of the candidate during the campaign has raised concerns about the possibility of further terrorist attacks.

According to Bloomberg News on the 9th (local time), Fernando Villavicencio (59), a candidate from the opposition party 'Construye Ecuador' (Construction Movement), was shot by an assailant as he was about to get into a car after finishing a campaign rally at a gymnasium in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, at around 6:20 p.m.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Local daily newspapers reported that the candidate was shot three times in the head and was immediately transported to a nearby hospital but ultimately died. Other participants at the rally were also injured by shrapnel. The police have launched a manhunt for the suspect.

Earlier, Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso, facing an impeachment crisis, resigned and dissolved the National Assembly, exercising the so-called 'muerte cruzada' (mutual death) power. Consequently, Ecuador was scheduled to hold an early presidential election on the 20th, with eight candidates having declared their candidacy.

Villavicencio, a former journalist, rose to prominence by reporting on corruption scandals during the administration of former President Rafael Correa, who was in power from 2007 to 2017. According to polls published until the 5th, he had secured a certain level of support, ranking second with 13.5% of the vote.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

The media believe that drug cartels are behind the assassination. Violence related to drug cartels has sharply increased in Ecuador ahead of the presidential election. BBC reported that this issue had been a persistent problem throughout the election campaign period.

Villavicencio had taken a tough stance against drug cartels and appeared to have been under threat from gangs. According to BBC, Villavicencio revealed last week that he and his team had been threatened by gang leaders involved in drug trafficking.

Bloomberg reported, "Before being elected as a congressman in 2021, Villavicencio was one of the most prominent journalists in Ecuador," adding, "He had pledged to take a hard line against drug cartels."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.