This Wednesday (early Thursday morning in Spain) the shooting that ended in the presidential candidate’s life EcuadorFernando Villavicencio After a rally held just 11 days before the snap election, the sinister predictions created a stunner and chill. President Guillermo Lasso decided Exception status in the whole country. It was already in force in three regions due to problems of violence. Lasso activated in turn Armed Forces to “guarantee” peace and elections throughout the region. “Organized crimes have come a long way, but the full weight of the law will be on them.” The deadly attack forced all participants to suspend the campaign. A deep sense of breaking floats in the air. “Ecuador has become a failed state“Raphael Correa in exile said. His candidate is first in the polls, luisa gonzalezjoined the wave of anger. “This infamy will not go unpunished!”
The newspaper, in its editorial, UniverseFrom Guayaquil pointed out that the bullets not only extinguished Villavicencio’s life, but also revealed the state’s impotence in the face of rising crime related to drug trafficking. “What will happen in the country? Who is responsible for this new crime? There are so many unanswered questions.”
Villavicencio topped the Movimiento Construye list. “brave time“, was his motto, completely security crisis from the country. According to the polls that gave González first place, the electoral prospects were not very good. He was talking about the dangers that had loomed around him for days. And what caused it Universe considering the stance of government officials as “unheard of”, taking into account not only the victim’s political affiliation with Lasso, but also the public certainty that he was threatened. “The mafias who killed Fernando Villavicencio are trying to sow the seeds of terror in the country. The reactions cannot be lukewarm, the citizens do not want coercion, they demand, they shout.”
The attack occurred after holding an election activity in an area of the capital. Ecuadorians oscillated between disbelief and me.confirmation of their fears. weeks ago Manta Mayor Agustín Intriago murdered. That incident was a breaking point for the traditions of that country: The crime of politicians was introduced as a variant. Several candidates and MPs demanded personal security. Others found this unnecessary, believing that what happened to Intriago was the exception, not the rule. On July 17, Esmeraldas district councilor candidate Rider Sánchez Valencia died of similar causes. In Ecuador, where the word is becoming increasingly common, the two crimes are no longer perceived as coincidence. “narco-state”. Currently, Villavicencio’s death forces the political class to reconsider the depth of the problems that lie before them.
The shadow of the Mexican cartels
In this sense, Lasso did not hesitate to describe the murder as “political”. “We have no doubt that it was an attempt to sabotage the electoral process.“. In this connection, he recalled Villavicencio’s own complaints about the intimidation of criminal gangs. Sinaloa cartel. The president reported on Wednesday night that six people allegedly involved in the attack had been arrested and promised “all strictness of the law will be applied so that those responsible pay the maximum penalty”.
The assassinated candidate, a former journalist and union leader, was a member of the Assembly until the Assembly was dissolved when it was decided by Lasso to avoid an attack. motion of reprimand. launched dozens of investigations into his actions. corruption. While chairing the Oversight Commission, which was established to carry out the political trial of the President, he published a report in favor of his innocence in the face of the corruption allegations he was exposed to.
Despite his affinity with Lasso, the Construye Movement candidate was critical of the right-wing government’s security policy to such an extent that it casts doubt on the effectiveness of the security forces. “The police know where the criminals’ hideouts are. from drug traffickers, illegal mining, white collar criminals.
In his proselytizing activity he insisted on the need for a radical turn in the approach to the problem of security. A few days before the attack, he made public the threats he had received. He said they came later. ChonerosOne of the drug gangs, which started its activities in the port city of Manta and according to inside information, Sinaloa cartel In Ecuador, he argues with other gangs such as Los Lobos, Tiguerones, and Chone Killers for control of districts and prisons by blood and fire, and in return is another Mexican cartel. Jalisco Next Generation.
suspicious video
This Thursday, a video began circulating on social media featuring about 20 hooded and armed men claiming to belong to Los Lobos and claiming responsibility for Villavicencio’s murder. The accuracy of the material is questionable. The suspicions are based on the fact that Villavicencio targeted Los Choneros and their ringleaders. Adolfo “Fito” Macias . The media claims that this gang has more than 8,000 members scattered throughout the country’s prisons. The group participated in several bloody actions. prison massacres In Ecuador, which has killed more than 459 prisoners in 14 incidents over the past two years.
“Our Country Has Been Lost”said conservative candidate Otto Sonnenholzner. Yaku Pérez from the indigenous movement expressed himself in the same direction. His election binomial partner Andrea González Nader posted on social networks, “They took our brave president from us. I’m devastated. Ecuador doesn’t deserve to lose you like this.” The campaign must continue in unforeseen circumstances, Lasso maintains the August 20 election date. Crime reflects its effects on the lives of Ecuadorians. As noted Universethere “afraid of going out‘ and ‘the anger of not being able to trust that there will be justice this time.’