They assassinate a candidate for parliament in the Ecuadorian province of Esmeraldas

The Police reported that they have been deployed to locate those responsible for this crime.

On Sunday night, Rider Sanchez, a candidate for the National Assembly of Ecuador for the early elections to be held on August 20 in the South American country, was assassinated.

The crime occurred in the parish of La Union, in the Quininde canton of the Esmeraldas province, northwest of Ecuador, at approximately 10:00 p.m. [hora local]when Sanchez was moving in a vehicle and was shot at.

The man was transferred still alive to a health home in the province of Santo Domingo, however, he did not resist and lost his life due to his injuries.

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The National Police confirmed the fact through their social networks this Monday morning, and reported that their specialized units have been deployed to locate those responsible.

Sanchez was a candidate for parliament sponsored by the political alliance Actuemosmade up of the United Society More Action (SUMA) and Avanza parties, which supports presidential candidate Otto Sonnenholzner.

“One day after another violence hits us. We are shocked by the murder of Rider Sanchez, our candidate in the province of Esmeraldas. My most sincere condolences to his family and friends,” said Sonnenholzner, who was vice president during Lenin Moreno’s term.

“We have a commitment: we will end this plague (of violence),” added the presidential candidate in his message.

political violence

Ecuador is going through a strong insecurity crisis. In 2022, the South American country experienced its most violent year, with 4,823 intentional homicides in the 12 months. That meant a rate of 26.68 murders per 100,000 inhabitants.

However, 2023 is shaping up to be even more violent, as In the first six months, more than 3,500 intentional homicides were registered (3,568 until July 2). If this trend continues, the country could close this year with a rate of close to 40 murders per 100,000 inhabitants.

Given the current scenario, the authorities have reinforced the security of the presidential candidates for these early elections in August, which were called after the president of the South American country, Guillermo Lasso, decreed a death cross and dissolved Parliament.

The murder of Sanchez is reminiscent of what was experienced during the electoral process of the sectional elections that were held last February.

Prior to those elections there were more than a dozen attacks to candidates, including the murder of two aspiring mayors: Omar Menendez, who was running for mayor of the Puerto Lopez canton, in the province of Manabi; and Julio Cesar Farachio, who was going through the municipality of Salinas, in Santa Elena.

Aside from the elections, Sanchez’s crime is the second assassination of a politician in a month in the province of Esmeraldas. On June 13, councilor Jairo Olaya Ordonez was the victim of an attack in the heart of the Esmeralda capital —of the same name— and died four days later.