President of Ecuador Guillermo Lasso declared a state of emergency at the national level. for 60 days after the assassination of a presidential candidate Fernando Villavicenciowho died after being shot several times in the head at the end of an election rally in Quito, the country’s capital.

“The Armed Forces have been mobilized throughout the country. guarantee the safety of citizens, peace in the country, free and democratic elections on August 20, as envisaged by the National Electoral Council (NEC),” the president said after an emergency meeting with the Security Cabinet.

The President signed two decrees in which recognizes “an outstanding career as a journalist, writer, public and political figure.” presidential candidate and praised his “honesty”. “He is one of the main supporters of investigative actions against corrupt practices at the national level,” he said.

In this regard, he stressed that it is “the duty of the government to honor his memory” and stressed his fight against organized crime. In addition, he expressed his “solidarity” to his family and friends before instituting a three-day national mourning period in his memory.

It was also stipulated that Ecuadorian flags remain at half mast in all public, private, civil and military buildings during the days of declared national mourning.

Lasso expressed regret that the country “became a witness to the criminal acts that escalation of violence on the national territory is evident and increasingly aggressive and violent criminal forms” and argued that these “deplorable” acts were drawing “national and international condemnation”.

This, he explained, “has exacerbated the climate of social anxiety in the context of political elections and against a public official (…) causing fear or panic among the population at the national level.”

“It is necessary to have the support of the military Otherwise, the number of police officers may not only be insufficient to control the specific acts of violence that have taken place in recent weeks and hours, but also to ensure the integrity of other candidates, politicians (…) and citizens. country,” he said.

Therefore, it is necessary to take “exceptional measures to allow control and protection of public order, internal security and rights and guarantees all Ecuadorians,” he said, before emphasizing the importance of “strengthening protection mechanisms to effectively prevent new acts of violence that violate the rights and guarantees of citizens in general.”

With regard to the duration of the state of emergency, he explained that “It is considered adequate to use emergency mechanisms face serious internal unrest and the demands that the situation calls for”, and argued that “restriction of the right to freedom of assembly is necessary to protect order and internal security within the territorial limits of this declaration, avoiding the coordination of new acts of violence and planning the commission of new crimes that endanger the inviolability of the population.”

The state of emergency provides mobilization of the Armed Forces for the “restoration of public order” for the purpose of “strengthening internal controls”, suspension of the right to inviolability of the home throughout the territory and suspension of the inviolability of sent or received correspondence.

Lasso provides, in turn, that the Ministry of Economy and Finance allocate sufficient resources to “address the exceptional situationhaving the ability to dispose of public funds necessary for this purpose, with the exception of funds corresponding to health and education, ”as stated in the decree.

For her part, CNE President Diana Atamant noted that the date of the election “remains unchanged in accordance with the constitutional mandate”, as well as all events already organized for the pre-election appointment scheduled for August 20 next year.

six arrested

Lasso confirms the arrest of at least six suspects who, according to the Ecuadorian prosecutor’s office, were arrested “in the course of raids carried out” in two districts of Quito. The President indicated that investigations were ongoing and that the authorities would “apply the full extent of the law to ensure that the perpetrators face the maximum punishment.”

“This is a political crime that acquires a terrorist character. and we have no doubt that this is an attempt to sabotage the electoral process,” Lasso said, noting that “it is not a coincidence” that this attack takes place “a few days after the first round” of the election.

He also claimed that The state “will not back down” and will remain “solid” because “democracy does not succumb to the cruelty of this murder”. “We are not going to give power or authority to organized crime, even if it is disguised,” he added.

“We agree that despite the loss of a struggling Democrat, elections are not suspendedthey must be met and democracy must be strengthened. This is the best reason to go vote and defend democracy,” Lasso said.