They have conducted the first round of elections in Ecuador on August 20, and Luisa González de Revolución Nacional has been the most voted with 33.13%. The second most voted was Daneil Noboa, a candidate for National Democratic Action with 23.94% of the votes obtained. Christian Zurita, who represented Fernando Villavicencio, was third with 16.47%.

82.26% of the population has decided to vote, 13.4 million people. The President of the National Election Commission, Diana Atamain, clarifies that the first round was the “biggest” participation of all time and thanks all voters. The second round will take place on 15 October.

Conflict

Fernando Villavicencio, candidate for president of the Community Movement, was murdered on 9 August. During the electoral campaign, the party and Villavicencio and their party gave a rally in the capital of the country, Quito. He was shot dead as he went out and entered the car.

This murder has provoked a stir in recent election days and all parties have been forced to take action. Political myths have had to do so safely, such as the bulletproof vest and increased police presence. The police and military presence in the elections has been very important, with 90,000 agents mobilized by the government. Atamaine thanked the agents and stressed that “there have been no accidents”.

It is not the first time that the candidates have been murdered in Ecuador, as in 1978 the Radical Alpharist Front murdered Abdón Calderón. Other examples can also be found in South America, especially in Colombia, such as Jaime Pardo in 1987.

20minutes has published that the murders have increased in recent years. Last year there were 25.32 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, the highest figure in history.