Journalist replaces murdered Ecuador’s presidential candidate

The party of murdered Ecuadorian presidential candidate, Fernando Villavicencio, has announced the decision to field journalist Christian Zurita for the forthcoming election.

The Build Ecuador Movement announced at a news conference in Quito on Sunday that Zurita will be the party’s presidential candidate in next Sunday’s presidential election.

Initially, the party had said on Saturday that Villavicencio’s running mate, Andrea González Nader, would run for president in his place following the candidate’s assassination.

However, it was initially unclear whether the country’s electoral authority CNA would approve it, since the environmental activist was already registered as a candidate for vice president.

She is now expected to continue her campaign for the same post.

READ ALSO: Ecuador’s presidential candidate Villavicencio assassinated

“In the absence of clear answers from the CNE, and given the angry reaction from some political circles, we will not take any risks,” the party said.

Villavicencio was shot dead on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, after an election rally in Quito.

At least nine people were injured in the attack, and one suspect died of injuries after an exchange of gunfire with security forces.

Six suspects, all men from neighbouring Colombia, were remanded in custody.

Ecuadorian President, Guillermo Lasso, imposed a state of emergency for 60 days.

At Sunday’s news conference, Zurita and Nader wore bulletproof vests.

Early presidential and parliamentary elections will be held in the South American country on August 20.

These became necessary because Lasso dissolved parliament amid impeachment proceedings for alleged embezzlement.

Zurita is an investigative journalist, as was the murdered Villavicencio.

They worked together reporting on corruption in the government of former President Rafael Correa (2007-2017) and were close friends.

The Star