Fernando Villavicencio was an Ecuadorian presidential candidate who was tragically shot dead on the campaign trail.
He was known as a tireless anti-corruption figure and vocal opponent of drug trafficking groups and government corruption.
Villavicencio was a 59-year-old politician who had a long history in Ecuador’s public affairs, often serving as an antagonist to those in power.
He was an outspoken critic of government corruption in the country. Villavicencio’s assassination has led to a state of emergency being declared in Ecuador.
His death comes just days before the scheduled election and amidst a sharp rise in violent and organized crime in the country
President Guillermo Lasso confirmed the assassination and suggested that organized crime was behind the slaying.
While the exact details and motives behind Villavicencio’s assassination are still under investigation, his death has sent shockwaves through Ecuador and has highlighted the ongoing challenges of corruption and crime in the country’s political landscape.
Fernando Villavicencio wife
Villavicencio was married to Verónica Sarauz at the time of his sudden death.
According to The Distin, he met his spouse while working at the National Assembly.
Unfortunately, there are no further details about Villavicencio’s wife including her age, date of birth and profession.
The two have five children together.
Fernando Villavicencio’s political views
While Villavicencio’s specific political platform is not well-documented, he was known for his anti-corruption stance and opposition to organized crime and drug trafficking groups.
Some of the proposals that he had made as a presidential candidate include;
- Reforming the judiciary system to ensure greater transparency and accountability
- Implementing measures to combat corruption and promote ethical behavior in government
- Strengthening the country’s healthcare system and expanding access to medical care
- Promoting economic growth and job creation through investment in infrastructure and small businesses
- Improving education and expanding access to quality education for all Ecuadorians
Villavicencio was also known for his criticism of the current government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic policies.
While his specific political views and platform may not be fully known, his anti-corruption stance and commitment to improving the lives of Ecuadorians were central to his campaign.
Villavicencio’s assassination has had a significant impact on the presidential race in Ecuador.
Following the assassination, President Guillermo Lasso declared a state of emergency in the country.
This has led to increased security measures and a heightened sense of tension in the lead-up to the election.
Additionally, Villavicencio’s death has sent shockwaves through Ecuador and has led to an outpouring of grief and mourning from his supporters and the wider public.
Many have expressed their disbelief and sadness at the loss of a prominent anti-corruption figure.
Furthermore, assassination has created a sense of uncertainty and instability in the lead-up to the election.
It is unclear how the other candidates will respond to Villavicencio’s death and how it will affect their campaigns.
Villavicencio’s assassination has brought renewed attention to the issue of crime and corruption in Ecuador.
Many are calling for greater action to be taken to address these issues and to ensure the safety of political candidates and the wider public.
Fernando Villavicencio career
Villavicencio studied journalism and communication at the Cooperative University of Colombia.
After college, he was one of the founders of the Pachakutik Party in 1995.
He joined Petroecuador in 1996 first as a social communicator and then as a trade unionist until 1999, when he was fired by the government of Jamil Mahuad.
Using the settlement after his firing, he opened a pizzeria with his brother.
Villavicencio began his journalism career with El Universo in Guayaquil.
During his investigative career at El Universo, he was critical of various governments such as that of Gustavo Noboa whom he accused of corruption.
Most of his work was criticised, and its credibility was questioned, due to the newspaper’s conservative funding.
Villavicencio was the first to report about detailed security logs on Julian Assange that staff and security guards at Ecuador’s UK embassy kept.
In 2015, Cynthia Viteri and Villavicencio sent secret documents to WikiLeaks showing that Ecuador was using an Italian company to run a surveillance program.
The program was spying on journalists and political enemies, in addition to spying on Julian Assange in the embassy.
The New York Times reported that leaked chat logs from 2015 show that Assange and his inner circle were aware of the documents, which were not published by WikiLeaks.
