The Organization of American States (OAS) has called on the Ecuadorian government to conduct a thorough investigation into the murder of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio and strengthen security measures in the country after the incident.
"We call upon the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation. Likewise, we urge all candidates to strengthen their security measures and call upon the authorities to provide the necessary support to guarantee the integrity of the participants in the electoral process. The security of candidates is fundamental to maintaining confidence in the democratic system," the OAS Electoral Observation Mission said in a statement released on Wednesday.
Villavicencio was shot dead at a campaign rally on Wednesday. Local media reported that he had received several death threats before the incident. Nine other people were reportedly injured during the rally. A prime suspect in the assassination died from gunshot wounds received during his arrest, the Ecuadorian General Prosecutor's Office said, adding that six people had been detained in connection with the incident.
The assassination drew condemnation from Mexico, Spain, China and the European Union.
"We condemn any violent act that undermines the will of the Ecuadorian people and we hope that peace will be restored within the democratic electoral process of the brother state," the Mexican Foreign Ministry said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
China's foreign ministry spokesperson said Beijing condemned the attack and offered condolences to those affected.
"We hope the Ecuadorian government and relevant parties will work to maintain stability and that the upcoming election will be safe, steady and smooth," the spokesperson added.
The Spanish government said in a statement released by the foreign ministry that it supported "the Ecuadorian electoral process, its democracy and the authorities of that country so that this tragic death is investigated and the guilty parties are brought to justice."
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also expressed solidarity with the Ecuadorian government and Villavicencio's family, calling for justice for this "heinous crime." He suggested that all election candidates be guaranteed strong protections to ensure a free and democratic election.
"The EU stands with Ecuador in its fight against the worsening violence by organized crime and will continue its cooperation with the Ecuadorian authorities to address this huge challenge, including in the framework of our recent memorandum of understanding," Borrell said.
The foreign policy chief also vowed to support Ecuadorian democracy and its efforts to ensure peaceful democratic elections. An EU electoral expert mission has arrived in the small Andean country and is following closely the electoral process, he added.