The government of Peru this Wednesday strongly condemned the assassination of the presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio after a political rally and rejected any kind of act affecting the development of democracy in the region, through a short statement shared on the Foreign Ministry’s social networks.

“The government of Peru strongly condemns the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio and Strongly rejects any act of violence and intimidation that harms the development of democracy in the region”, indicated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed its solidarity with the Ecuadorian government and people and sent His sincere condolences to his family and supporters.

Villavicencio, presidential candidate for the Construye movement, list 25, was assassinated as he left the Anderson School Coliseum in Quito, where he had taken part in a political rally.

The incident happened around 6:20 p.m. Witnesses pointed out that a burst of shots had been heard and they saw Villavicencio fall to the ground badly injured.

Interior Minister Juan Zapata confirmed the deadly attack on the politician and assured that the attack was carried out by assassins who also injured other people.

One of the suspects in the murder of the former councilor died after a shootout with security personnel, according to the prosecution.

President Guillermo Lasso expressed his displeasure at the shot dead presidential candidate and promised that the crime will not go unpunished.

“Outraged and shocked by the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. My solidarity and condolences to his wife and daughters. For his memory and for his struggle, I assure you this crime will not go unpunished,” Lasso wrote on social media.