Security operation underway in Ecuador ahead of the electoral debate – Escambray

The authorities decided to increase security for the event after the assassination on August 9 of candidate Fernando Villavicencio, one of the eight candidates for the executive branch.

The National Police and the Armed Forces have been carrying out a security operation since Saturday around the headquarters of Ecuador TV in the capital, where the presidential debate between the two candidates will take place tomorrow.

Uniformed officers guarded the streets around the public media on Saturday and closed roads to vehicular traffic in coordination with the Metropolitan Transit Agency.

The police will be responsible for security in the inner region and about 200 soldiers will be in the outer perimeter with the aim of ensuring that the debate takes place before the elections on August 20.

The authorities decided to increase security for the event after the assassination on August 9 of candidate Fernando Villavicencio, one of the eight candidates for the executive branch.

To date, seven candidates will be present to be Guillermo Laso’s successor, since the National Electoral Council (CNE) has not ruled on the Construye movement’s proposal to present Andrea González as Villavicencio’s replacement.

Participants in the presidential race will present their proposals and opinions on five thematic axes: security, economy, social policy, democracy, institutions and citizen participation, sustainability, risk management and environmental preservation.

The spokeswoman for the committee in charge of preparing the 40 questions for August 13, Patricia Hidalgo, clarified that these questions will be delivered in a sealed envelope to the moderators, and specified that the new format will enable candidates to question their opponents.

Last Monday, the National Electoral Council held a public drawing to determine the order in which each participant would intervene in the debate, which will last for about three hours.