Ecuadorean presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was murdered with three shots to the head after leaving a political meeting in the city of Quito this Wednesday (9).
Publications with videos of the moment of the attack circulate on social networks.
Urgent!!
Hitmen tried to kill Fernando Villavicencio while he was at a political rally! pic.twitter.com/PqaiFBw40k
– Emergencies Ec (@EmergenciasEc) August 9, 2023
According to local newspaper El Universo, the death was confirmed by Carlos Figueroa, a campaign adviser and personal friend of Villavicencio.
In his Twitter account, the current president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, stated that the crime “will not go unpunished”. Furthermore, he announced that the Security Cabinet will meet later this evening.
Outraged and shocked by the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. My solidarity and my condolences with his wife and his daughters. For his memory and for his fight, I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished.
The Security Cabinet will meet in…
— Guillermo Lasso (@LassoGuillermo) August 10, 2023
According to the research institute TelcoData, Villavicencio appeared this Tuesday (8) in fourth place in the electoral race, with 6.8% of the votes. Luisa González leads the race for the presidency with 30.5% of the voting intentions. Elections are scheduled for August 20.
Editing: Thalita Pires
