Public Story
The Washington Post: A presidential candidate was assassinated. His rivals are trying to stay alive.
Summary
Fernando Villavicencio — a presidential candidate who had been outspoken about the cartels and corruption consuming his country — was assassinated in the nation’s capital, just 10 days before the election. It was the first time a presidential candidate had been murdered in a country once known as a relatively safe haven in a region that has long struggled with drug violence. Now the remaining candidates have been left to navigate how to campaign in a changed country — and how to stay alive.
This Ecuador’s election was set to be unlike any other in its history. It was already the first election of its kind in the country, a rushed vote called by Ex-President Guillermo Lasso after he dissolved Congress to avert his imminent impeachment. Then, Fernando Villavicencio — a presidential candidate and former member of the National Assembly who had been outspoken about the cartels and corruption consuming his country — was assassinated in the nation’s capital, just 10 days before the election. It was the first time a presidential candidate had been murdered in a country once known as a relatively safe haven in a region that has long struggled with drug violence. Now the remaining candidates have been left to navigate how to campaign in a changed country — and how to stay alive.
Story for The Washington Post
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A presidential candidate was assassinated. His rivals are trying to stay alive.Ecuador wasn’t prepared for the assassination of a presidential candidate. There are no rules or protocol for protecting them.
Washingtonpost.com
[ESPAÑOL]
Las elecciones de Ecuador iban a ser diferentes a cualquier otra en su historia. Ya eran las primeras elecciones de este tipo en el país, una votación apresurada convocada por el ex Presidente Guillermo Lasso después de que éste disolviera el Congreso para evitar su inminente destitución. Entonces, Fernando Villavicencio -candidato presidencial y antiguo miembro de la Asamblea Nacional que había denunciado abiertamente los cárteles y la corrupción que consumían su país- fue asesinado en la capital del país, sólo 10 días antes de las elecciones. Era la primera vez que se asesinaba a un candidato presidencial en un país conocido como un refugio relativamente seguro en una región que lleva mucho tiempo luchando contra la violencia del narcotráfico. Ahora, los demás candidatos tienen que buscar la manera de hacer campaña en un país que ha cambiado, y de mantenerse con vida.
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