Days following the assassination of an Ecuadorian presidential candidate, the party he was backed by has selected a new candidate to take his place. Additionally, the FBI is collaborating with officials to uncover the perpetrators of the murder. Fernando Villavicencio, a 59-year-old journalist turned politician, was fatally attacked after a rally in the country’s capital, and it has been reported that he received multiple death threats prior to the shooting. The shocking murder of the candidate has deeply affected the country, which has been grappling with an increase in transnational gang-related crimes. Despite the threats he received, Villavicencio fearlessly fought against corruption in previous administrations as both a journalist and anti-graft advocate. The interior minister, Juan Zapata, revealed that local police leaders and the FBI have met and are planning to meet with the prosecutors leading the investigation into Villavicencio’s death. So far, six individuals with ties to criminal groups have been charged with the crime and are currently in custody, while a seventh suspect died in a subsequent exchange of gunfire. In the wake of these events, Christian Zurita has been chosen as Villavicencio’s replacement as the top candidate for the Build party, and Andrea Gonzalez has been selected as his running mate. Both Zurita and Villavicencio were journalists who had collaborated closely. Zurita expressed his intention to honor Villavicencio’s legacy and name, stating, “We’re going to try to emulate his abilities and we’re going to try to emulate his name.” It is important to note that this report contains contributions from Reuters.
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