Ecuador: The Build Party, the political party of Ecuador’s assassinated presidential contestant Mr. Fernando Villavicencio, has announced its vice presidential candidate to replace him, just a week before the election.
The Build Party, or Construye in Spanish, posted on social media that Ms. Andrea Gonzalez was replacing the 59-year-old in the August 20 vote.
Mr. Villavicencio, an ex-lawmaker and journalist with a long track record of exposing corruption, was fatally shot recently after leaving a campaign event in the capital, Quito.
Six suspects, all Colombian nationals whom police accuse of links to criminal groups, have been charged with the murder and remain in custody after a judge ordered they remain behind bars as the investigation into the crime continues.
Ms. González is an environmental activist who has not previously held public office. The 39-year-old had been selected by Mr. Villavicencio to be his running mate in the snap election called by outgoing President Mr. Guillermo Lasso.
While ballots have been printed, by law, votes for the assassinated candidate will automatically transfer to Ms. González.
Mr. Villavicencio, who was not a frontrunner, was known for speaking up against drug cartels. The Build Party leader had accused Los Choneros and its leader Mr. Adolfo Macias whom he linked to Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, of threatening him and his campaign team days before the assassination.
About 4,000 soldiers and police officers also raided the jail where Mr. Macias was being held and seized weapons, ammunition, and explosives.
According to Mr. Lasso, the relocation of Mr. Macias, alias “Fito,” was meant “for the safety of citizens and detainees.”
“Ecuador will recover peace and security. If violent reactions arise, we will act with full force,” the President tweeted.
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