The political party of Ecuador’s assassinated presidential hopeful, Fernando Villavicencio, picked his would-be vice-presidential candidate to replace him as the party standard-bearer on Saturday, just a week before the election.
Mr Villavicencio’s Build party, or Construye in Spanish, announced on social media it had tapped Andrea González to replace the slain 59-year-old in the August 20th vote.
Later on Saturday, the deceased candidate’s widow criticised the party’s replacement as unlawful.
Mr Villavicencio, an ex-lawmaker and journalist with a track record of exposing corruption, was gunned down earlier this week after leaving a campaign event in the capital Quito despite his own government-provided security detail.
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Six suspects – all Colombian nationals whom police accuse of links to criminal groups – have been charged with the murder and remain in custody after a judge on Thursday ordered they remain behind bars as the criminal investigation continues.
Veronica Sarauz, Mr Villavicencio’s widow, told reporters on Saturday she holds the state directly responsible for her husband’s murder.
“The government still has to provide a lot of answers for everything that happened,” Ms Sarauz said, after arriving at the press conference with an armed police escort and wearing a bulletproof vest and helmet.
Ms Sarauz described the party decision to tap Ms Gonzalez as “arbitrary” and said it breaks a law that forbids the vice-presidential candidate from stepping down.
The national electoral council must still approve the party's stand-in candidates.
Ms Gonzalez, an environmental activist who has not previously held public office, was selected by Mr Villavicencio to be his running made in the snap election called by outgoing president Guillermo Lasso.
While ballots have already been printed, by law votes for Mr Villvicencio will automatically transfer to the party candidate.
The South American nation of some 18 million has seen a rising tide of violence in recent years, including a sharp increase in the murder rate.
Mr Villavicencio had been polling around the middle of the pack in a field of eight candidates before his assassination.
[ Ecuador assassination marks dramatic turning point for once-secure nationOpens in new window ]
Beyond security, employment and migration have emerged as major campaign issues. – Reuters