Business Standard

Ecuadorean presidential candidate Villavicencio shot dead in Quito at event

A suspect in the killing was wounded in an exchange of fire with security officials and later died

Ecuador Prez

Ecuador presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, PHOTO: REUTERS

Reuters

Listen to This Article

Ecuador presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, a journalist known for his crusade against corruption, was assassinated less than two weeks before an election where soaring drug violence dominated the campaign. The killing of Villavicencio throws Ecuador’s unstable political environment into further turmoil. Current President Guillermo Lasso, who dissolved congress this year to avoid impeachment, summoned his security council in Quito and vowed to bring Villavicencio’s killers to justice.

A suspect in the killing was wounded in an exchange of fire with security officials and later died. Villavicencio, 59, became a household name in Ecuador during the 2007-2017 government of President Rafael Correa, when he reported on corruption scandals related to loans from China, and on illegal campaign financing
 


Topics : Ecuador

Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel

First Published: Aug 10 2023 | 11:36 PM IST

Explore News