(13 Aug 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Quito, Ecuador - 13 August 2023
1. Pan of Build Ecuador Movement presidential candidate Christian Zurita and vice-presidential candidate Andrea Gonzalez walking down stairs to attend news conference
2. Various of Zurita and Gonzalez at conference
3. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Andrea Gonzalez, Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Build Ecuador Movement:
"The candidate that we have decided in a joint agreement with the Build Ecuador Movement is that it will be Fernando Villavicencio's brother in struggle, Christian Zurita, who will accompany him to not let the time (taken) by the CNE (National Electoral Council) be some reason for disqualification for the dream, not only of Fernando Villavicencio, but of all of us who believe in him."
4. Cutaway of conference
5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Christian Zurita, Candidate to the Presidency of Ecuador for Build Ecuador Movement
"We could not allow under any circumstance that Fernando's non-presence, after this atrocious and brutal crime, could be lost. I could not allow his political project to be lost by the National Electoral Council through a possible dismissal of his candidacy; Fernando Villavicencio's project is intact, and I had to fight for it."
6. Cutaway of conference
7. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Christian Zurita, Candidate to the Presidency of Ecuador for the Build Ecuador Movement:
"Textually, Fernando assured us that we are not going to sit down to negotiate with any mafia, (inaudible), "Los Lobos," "Choneros," "Tiguerones" or "Los Lobos" (referring to gangs in Ecuador). We are not going to do it. Fernando is present in this (political) proposal, we are going to carry it forward; and without Fernando Villavicencio, who is irreplaceable, there is no debate."
8. Various at end of conference
9. Various of candidates leaving

STORYLINE:
The political movement that championed the candidacy of Fernando Villavicencio, gunned down at the end of a rally five days ago, announced on Sunday that it had selected journalist Christian Zurita to replace the murdered Ecuadorian candidate for presidential election.

Leaders of the Build Ecuador Movement indicated in a news conference that they opted at the last moment for Zurita due to the "lack" of a pronouncement by the National Electoral Council (CNE) on the initial decision that Villavicencio's partner in the presidential binomial, Andrea González, would take the place of the murdered candidate, which generated controversy.

Zurita said that "the revenge against the mafias of this country will be to vote for Fernando Villavicencio (in the ballot printed with his image)."

Both Zurita and Gonzalez gave their statements while wearing a police bulletproof vest.

The electoral body will still need to approve Zurita's candidacy.

If he is not confirmed, Zurita will not be able to participate in the debate scheduled for tonight, in which the seven presidential candidates will go head-to-head.

Gonzalez, a 36-year-old environmental activist, will remain the vice-presidential candidate, according to Build Ecuador Movement.

Zurita is a journalist with a long career in national print and television media. Specialized in the field of investigation, he founded two digital portals.

Villavicencio was not a front-runner in the race, but his assassination in broad daylight less than two weeks before a special presidential election shocked the country and demonstrated how surging crime will challenge Ecuador's next leader.

Violence linked to gangs and cartels have claimed thousands of lives in the past few years.

AP Video by Cesar Olmos.



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