The political occasion of Ecuador’s assassinated presidential hopeful, Fernando Villavicencio, picked his would-be vice presidential candidate to switch him because the occasion standard-bearer on Saturday, only a week earlier than the election.

Villavicencio’s Build occasion, or Construye in Spanish, introduced on social media it had tapped Andrea Gonzalez to switch the slain 59-year-old as its presidential candidate within the Aug. 20 vote.

Villavicencio, an ex-lawmaker and journalist with an extended monitor document of exposing corruption, was gunned down final week after leaving a marketing campaign occasion within the capital Quito regardless of his personal government-provided safety element.

Six suspects – all Colombian nationals whom police accuse of hyperlinks to legal teams – have been charged with the homicide and stay in custody after a decide on Thursday ordered they continue to be behind bars because the investigation into the crime continues.

His substitute, Gonzalez, is an environmental activist who has not beforehand held public workplace. She had been chosen by Villavicencio to be his working made within the snap election referred to as by outgoing President Guillermo Lasso.

While ballots have already been printed, by legislation votes for Villvicencio will mechanically switch to Gonzalez.

The South American nation of some 18 million has seen a rising tide of violence lately, together with a pointy improve within the homicide charge.

Villavicencio had been polling across the center of the pack in a area of eight candidates previous to his assassination.

Beyond safety, employment and migration have emerged as main marketing campaign points.