The Portuguese government vehemently repudiated this Thursday the murder of the candidate for the presidential elections of Ecuador Fernando Villavicencio, shot dead on Wednesday in Quito.
“Portugal vehemently repudiates the murder of the candidate for the presidential elections of Ecuador, Fernando Villavicencio,” declared the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE) of Portugal on the social network X (ex-Twitter).
Portugal vehemently condemns the murder of the candidate for the presidential elections of Ecuador, Fernando Villavicencio. Faced with this atrocious act, Portugal calls for the determination of responsibilities and reiterates its support for a democratic and plural electoral process. pic.twitter.com/vUbWXUSbOU
– Foreign Relations PT (@nestrangeiro_pt) August 10, 2023
“In the face of this atrocious act, Portugal calls for the determination of responsibilities and reiterates its support for a democratic and plural electoral process,” the MNE also said.
The attack on journalist and former congressman Fernando Villavicencio occurred at a rally held on Wednesday in a central and crowded area of Quito, where an unknown gunman shot at the candidate.
At least nine people were injured in the attack that killed Villavicencio, in which the suspect in the attack also died after a shootout with security guards, according to Ecuadorian authorities, who also reported the arrest of six people.
The European Union (EU) condemned this Thursday “in the strongest possible way” the murder of Fernando Villavicencio, a “horrendous crime” that it considers an attack against the institutions and democracy of Ecuador.
“The EU condemns in the strongest terms the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. This tragic act of violence is also an attack against the institutions and democracy in Ecuador”, said the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell.
Borrell expressed the solidarity of the 27 with the Ecuadorian population and urged the authorities to hold the perpetrators of “this horrendous crime” accountable.
The Organization of American States (OAS) condemned the assassination of Villavicencio and announced that members of the organization’s electoral observation mission will arrive in the country this Thursday.
This Thursday, after the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio, an extraordinary session of the OAS Permanent Council will be held at the institution’s headquarters in Washington.
Several countries, such as Spain and France, also condemned the attack that resulted in the death of the Ecuadorian candidate.
Source: TSF
