Just one week earlier than the election, Fernando Villavicencio’s political social gathering selected his potential vice presidential candidate to take his place because the social gathering standard-bearer. Villavicencio was Ecuador’s presidential contender and was assassinated on August 10.
Villavicencio’s Construct social gathering, or Construye in Spanish, mentioned in a social media submit, that Andrea Gonzalez would take the place of the deceased 59-year-old within the election on August 20.
In a while within the day on Saturday, the late candidate’s widow denounced the social gathering’s substitute as being unconstitutional.
In keeping with the social gathering’s social media posts, “hundreds of thousands of Ecuadorians will accompany her on this objective” and she is going to “assure the legacy” of Mr. Villavicencio.
In keeping with the social gathering, “probably the most trusted of those that have shared the struggles of comrade Fernando Villavicencio” would be the candidate for the vice presidency.
What we find out about Villavicencio’s assassination:
Regardless of having his personal government-provided safety element, Villavicencio, an ex-lawmaker and journalist with a historical past of uncovering corruption, was shot and killed final week after leaving a marketing campaign occasion within the capital Quito.
Six suspects have been charged with the homicide and are nonetheless in detention following a choose’s order to maintain them behind bars until the investigation continues. All suspects are Colombian nationals who police allege have connections to felony organizations.
Authorities moved a strong gang boss, accused of threatening Villavicencio earlier than his homicide, to a maximum-security facility on Saturday.
These gangs have developed right into a formidable foe due to the funding they obtain from their new supporters overseas and the highly effective weaponry they smuggle from the US by way of Mexico.
Late Villavicencio’s spouse: state accountable
Villavicencio’s widow, Veronica Sarauz, informed reporters on Saturday that she immediately blames the Ecuadorian state for her husband’s dying. She arrived on the information convention underneath the safety of an armed police escort and whereas donning a bulletproof vest and helmet. She mentioned that the federal government nonetheless has a variety of solutions to supply for every part that occurred.
Gonzalez was chosen by the social gathering, however Sarauz known as the selection “arbitrary” and mentioned it violated a rule that forbade the vice presidential candidate from resigning.
What’s going to occur now?
The social gathering’s stand-in candidates nonetheless require approval from the nationwide electoral council. Villavicencio selected Gonzalez, an environmental activist who has by no means held public workplace, to be his operating within the rapidly scheduled snap election by outgoing President Guillermo Lasso.
Votes for Villvicencio will routinely shift to the social gathering candidate even though ballots have already been printed.
Transient background
The 18 million-person nation of South America has skilled an uptick in violence, together with a dramatic rise within the homicide price, lately.
Previous to his homicide, Villavicencio had been polling in the course of a area of eight contenders. Along with safety, employment and immigration have change into essential marketing campaign subjects. His passing has shaken a rustic that, for probably the most half, has prevented the a long time of drug-gang violence, cartel battles, and corruption which have plagued a lot of its neighbours. Nevertheless, as a result of growth of the Mexican and Colombian drug cartels, crime has dramatically elevated within the nation just lately
The presidential candidate had believed in standard assist and had mentioned “You might be my bulletproof vest”.
Mr. Villavicencio was one in every of only a few candidates to assert ties between organized crime and authorities officers in Ecuador throughout his marketing campaign, which focused on corruption and gangs.