Ecuadorian VP Candidate's Assassination Exposes Government-Cartel Nexus

Fernando Villavicencio, an Ecuadorian presidential candidate, was assassinated at a campaign rally in Quito. Six people, all alleged members of a drug trafficking group, have been arrested in connection with the murder. The Build Ecuador Movement, Villavicencio's party, has replaced him with journalist Christian Zurita as its presidential candidate. There are concerns of government links to cartels, with accusations against President Guillermo Lasso of connections to narcotrafficking organizations. The widow of the slain candidate has accused the state of not protecting him adequately. Andrés Arauz, Lasso's political opponent, has accused the government of negligence and called for international support and investigation. Arauz also alleges that Lasso has links to mafia organizations and has been negligent in addressing security issues in the country.