Guillermo Lasso, the President of Ecuador, announced the two-month state of emergency after the presidential candidate’s assassination on Thursday but he vowed to maintain general elections planned for later this month.
Ecuadorian President said in a broadcast on youtube that the armed forces are mobilized throughout the national territory to ensure the safety of residents, the stability of the nation, and the democratic elections on August 20.
Lasso also announced three days mourn to honor the memory of Fernando Villavicencio Valencia.
Villavicencio was shot dead on Wednesday evening after he was leaving a rally in the capital of Ecuador, Quito.
According to recent polls, Fernando Villavicencio Valencia, the mainstreamer politician, and anti-corruption battler, who had complained of getting threats against himself, was the second most favored candidate in Ecuador’s presidential race.
In the attack, nine other people were seriously injured, including a candidate and two policemen, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors added that one of the attackers was shot dead by personnel security and six other suspects were captured during raids in the southern region of Quito and a neighboring town.
