2023 in Ecuador explained

See also: 2023 in South America. Events in the year 2023 in Ecuador.

Incumbents

• President

• • Guillermo Lasso (until 23 November)
  • Daniel Noboa (from 23 November)
• Vice President

• • Alfredo Borrero (until 23 November)
  • Verónica Abad Rojas (from 23 November)

Events

See also: COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador.

• 5 February — 2023 Ecuadorian constitutional referendum^{[1] [2]}
• 16 March — 2023 Guayas earthquake: A 6.8 earthquake strikes the Ecuadorian province of Guayas, damaging buildings, killing at least 18 people, including two in neighboring Peru, and injuring over 400.^[3]
• 20 March — Explosive devices disguised as USB flash drives are sent to least five news organizations in Ecuador; one journalist at Ecuavisa in Guayaquil suffers minor injuries.^[4]
• 27 March — At least seven people are killed by a landslide in Alausí, Chimborazo Province.^[5]
• 17 May — 2023 Ecuadorian political crisis
• 9 August — Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio is assassinated by gunmen at a campaign rally in Quito.^[6]
• 10 August — Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso declares a state of exception following the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in Quito.^[7]
• 12 August —
  • Ecuador transfers head of the Los Choneros criminal group, Jose Adolfo Macias, from Prison 8 in Guayaquil to La Roca maximum security prison. He is accused of threatening presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio before his assassination.^[8]
  • Andrea González Náder, the running mate of assassinated presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, is nominated by the Movimiento Construye party to run for president.^[9]
• 15 August — Pedro Briones, a local leader of the Citizen Revolution Movement, is assassinated by gunmen in the northern province of Esmeraldas.^[10]
• 20 August — First round of the 2023 Ecuadorian general election occurs.
• 3 September — Footballer Yarol Tafur is shot dead.^[11]
• 15 October —
  • Ecuadorians vote in the second round of their presidential election, choosing between the candidates Luisa González and Daniel Noboa.^[12]
  • The National Electoral Council declares Noboa as president-elect with González conceding defeat. Noboa is Ecuador's youngest president-elect.^[13]
• 22 December — Former Ecuadorian vice president Jorge Glas requests asylum in Mexico.^[14]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Estas son las seis preguntas del referendo del presidente Lasso . 2022-12-13 . Primicias . 13 October 2022 . es-MX.
2. Web site: Oñate . Sara . 2022-11-29 . Guillermo Lasso firma Decreto que convoca a referéndum . 2022-12-13 . El Comercio . es-EC.
3. News: Associated Press . 2023-03-19 . At least 15 dead after strong earthquake hits Ecuador and northern Peru . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-04-05 . 0261-3077.
4. News: Staff . 2023-03-21 . Ecuadorian TV presenter wounded by bomb disguised as USB stick . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-04-05 . 0261-3077.
5. News: 2023-03-27 . Ecuador landslide: Rescuers dig through mud for survivors . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-04-07.
6. News: 2023-08-10 . Candidate in Ecuador's presidential election Fernando Villavicencio shot dead . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-08-10.
7. Web site: 2023-08-10 . Ecuador declara el estado de excepción tras el asesinato del candidato Villavicencio . 2023-08-10 . ELMUNDO . es.
8. Web site: Agence France-Presse . 2023-08-13 . Gang boss who threatened slain Ecuador candidate transferred to max security . 2023-08-13 . The Manila Times . en.
9. Web site: 2023-08-13 . Running Mate of Slain Ecuadoran Candidate to Run for President . 2023-08-13 . News18 . en.
10. Web site: 2023-08-15 . Political leader in Ecuador is killed less than a week after presidential candidate's assassination . 2023-08-15 . AP News . en.
11. Web site: 2023-09-03 . Yarol Ariel Tafur, exseleccionado sub-20, fue asesinado en Esmeraldas . 2023-12-06 . El Universo . es.
12. News: Collyns . Dan . 2023-10-14 . 'People are dying in the street': Ecuador election overshadowed by violent crime . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-10-15 . 0261-3077.
13. Web site: 2023-10-15 . Ecuador's youngest-ever president vows to 'restore peace' . 2023-10-16 . France 24 . en.
14. Web site: Tapia . Daniel . 2023-12-22 . Ecuadorean Vice President Jorge Glas reacts as he arrives to court, to attend his trial on bribery from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, in Quito . 2023-12-22 . Colorado Springs Gazette . en.