Despite the drama that is shaking it, the centrist Construye party will be present during the presidential election in Ecuador. The running mate of the candidate assassinated on Wednesday will replace him for the August 20 ballot, their party announced on Saturday.
Fernando Villavicencio, a 59-year-old journalist on a crusade against corruption in his country, who was second in polls on presidential voting intentions, was shot dead as he left an election meeting in the capital , Quito. Most of Ecuador has since been under a state of emergency, and President Guillermo Lasso has blamed organized crime for the killing.
A longtime ally of Fernando Villavicencio
Andrea Gonzalez, a 36-year-old environmentalist, was a longtime ally of Fernando Villavicencio. She has devoted herself in particular to the defense of the oceans and the mangroves, to the fight against deforestation and the trafficking of wild animals. She must participate this Sunday in Quito in a presidential debate.
“The name of the vice-presidential candidate will be announced in the next few hours, and he will be chosen among the most loyal of those who shared the fights of comrade Fernando Villavicencio,” the party said.
Six Colombians have already been arrested in connection with the investigation into the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio, and one was killed shortly after the attack.