After the assassination attempt on the Ecuadorian Presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio the US federal police FBI is supposed to help with the investigations in the South American country.
“I have this FBI for assistance with the investigation on the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio Valencia asked. The FBI has complied with our request and a delegation will arrive in the country in the next few hours,” wrote Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso on Thursday (local time) on “X”, formerly Twitter.
The opposition candidate Villavicencio was on Wednesday shot dead after an election campaign event in the capital, Quito been. At least nine people were injured, including a candidate for parliamentary elections and two police officers, the South American country’s public prosecutor said on Thursday night. The public prosecutor warned at the same time False reports related to the fact.
A suspect be at the shootout arrested at the scene with serious injuries been, it said. The crew of an ambulance then confirmed his death.
State of emergency in Ecuador – armed forces mobilized
President Guillermo Lasso imposed for 60 days of state of emergency and mobilized the armed forces “to ensure the security of the citizens, the peace of the country and free and democratic elections,” as he explained in a speech distributed via the online platform YouTube.
“I am outraged and shocked by the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. My solidarity and my condolences go to his wife and daughters,” condoled the still president via “X”. “This crime will not go unpunished.”
Villavicencio criticized the corruption in the country
Villavicencio ran for the highest office in the South American country as a candidate for the Construye (Construction) movement and, according to the latest polls, was in fourth or fifth place. As Journalist and Member of Parliament he always had the widespread Corruption in Ecuador criticized.
On August 20th held in Ecuador early presidential and parliamentary elections instead of. These became necessary after Lasso dissolved the National Assembly in the midst of impeachment proceedings for alleged embezzlement.
Ecuador is in a serious political crisis. The approval ratings for government and parliament are very low. The once peaceful country is also currently suffering from a wave of violence. The Homicide rate of 25 homicides per 100,000 population last year was the highest in the country’s history, surpassing even those of Mexico and Brazil. The government blames drug dealers for the violence. (AFP/dpa)
