Ecuador Declares Nationwide State of Emergency Following Assassination of Presidential Candidate

The government has declared a national state of emergency amid claims that a Mexican drug trafficking cartel was involved in the assassination of a presidential candidate in Ecuador, South America.

On the 10th (local time), Guillermo Lasso, President of Ecuador, announced a 60-day nationwide state of emergency and the deployment of military forces. He also declared a three-day national mourning period and stated that the election would resume on the 20th.

President Lasso said, "We will not hand over power and democratic institutions to organized crime," adding, "The election will not be suspended."

Fernando Villavicencio, a member of the opposition Construction Movement party, was shot by an assailant after finishing an election campaign at a gymnasium in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, the previous day. The assailant fired 40 to 50 shots at Villavicencio, reportedly hitting him three times in the head.

The Ecuadorian daily newspaper El Universo cited an interview with Villavicencio before his death, reporting that he had received death threats from drug trafficking gangs.

In the interview, Villavicencio mentioned the Sinaloa Cartel and stated that he had been threatened by Adolfo Mac?as, the leader of the 'Los Choneros' cartel, who is nicknamed 'Pito.'

El Universo reported that Villavicencio, who had served as a union leader, journalist, and member of parliament, was known for his outspoken criticism of public official corruption and strong denunciations of suspected close ties between cartels and government agents.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

The Ecuadorian prosecutor's office announced that "the body of the presidential candidate who died yesterday has been handed over to the family," and that "the police are investigating six individuals arrested in connection with this incident."

Regarding the possibility of the Sinaloa Cartel's involvement in this case, Mexican President Andr?s Manuel L?pez Obrador said at a regular press conference that day, "Our government has no information," and added, "It appears to be a sensationalist version that remains hypothetical."

Meanwhile, governments of Latin American countries including Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina have condemned the incident and expressed solidarity with the Ecuadorian government and people.

Recently, drug trafficking cartels have been gaining power in Ecuador, leading to frequent violent crimes. Following the assassination of the presidential candidate, measures to combat drugs and violent crime are expected to become a key issue in the early presidential election campaign scheduled for the 20th.

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