The recent kidnapping and murder of Bolivar Vera, a municipal councillor in Ecuador, has sparked renewed concerns over political violence in the country. Vera's body was found in a vacant lot with his hands bound and his clothes bloodied. According to law enforcement sources, he had been shot multiple times in the chest and face.

The right-wing Social Christian Party, to which Vera belonged, criticized the administration of outgoing President Guillermo Lasso for its failure to address the escalating crime rate. Ecuador has experienced a surge in violent crime in recent years, with drug cartels and other criminal organizations gaining influence in the country.

In 2022 alone, the country recorded a staggering 4,603 violent deaths, averaging nearly 12.6 murders per day. The United Nations attributes this rise in violence to the deteriorating economy and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which have created favorable conditions for gang activity.

Poverty is identified as the root cause of insecurity, as young people are easily recruited by criminal gangs due to a lack of job opportunities and limited access to quality education. With the upcoming presidential run-off election scheduled for October 15, crime has emerged as a central issue.

Left-wing candidate Luisa Gonzalez, in response to the country's security conditions, has made headlines by wearing a bulletproof vest during campaign events. Vera's murder is the latest in a series of high-profile political assassinations in Ecuador.

In the span of a month, three politicians, including a presidential candidate, have been killed. The Organization of American States (OAS) has expressed concern about the impact of violence on the electoral process, noting that candidates have had to resort to wearing bulletproof vests, limiting their ability to move and express themselves freely.

Luis Chonillo, the mayor of Duran, where Vera served as a councillor, has called for three days of mourning and condemned President Lasso for not doing enough to protect political figures. Chonillo lamented the increasing number of deaths since Lasso declared a state of emergency in certain provinces, citing the murder of the city's director of planning and a targeted attack on himself that claimed three lives.

The murder of Bolivar Vera highlights the urgent need for the Ecuadorian government to address the rampant violence in the country, secure the safety of its citizens and political figures, and ensure a peaceful and fair electoral process.