Former Minister of Rafael Correa Step Out from the Electoral Race for Threatens Against his Life

Jose Serrano Salgado during his time as Minister, Aug 2024 Photo: @CadenaSeCom

August 27, 2024 Hour: 6:40 pm

Former Interior Minister and leader of the Centro Democrático movement, José Serrano, announced his decision to decline his presidential candidacy for the 2025 elections, citing threats to his security and that of his family.

«I cannot expose my family to a scenario where the institutions are completely corrupted and drug trafficking has penetrated the state completely» said Serrano in a video of almost five minutes, broadcast on his social networks.

The former minister of the interior of Ecuador during the presidency of Rafael Correa, announced on Tuesday his decision to resign from his candidacy for the presidency of the Republic in the elections of 2025.

The now-former candidate explained that growing insecurity in the country and direct threats to his life have led him to make this determination.

#ATENCION: @ppsesa declina su candidatura a la presidencia de Ecuador. Dice temer por su vida. "No puedo exponer a mi familia a un escenario donde las instituciones están completamente corrompidas y el narcotráfico ha penetrado en el Estado por completo" pic.twitter.com/sOD2ATuywV
— Elena Rodríguez Yánez (@ElenaDeQuito) August 27, 2024

Declaration of Jose Serrano Salgado in Spanish

Serrano, who had launched his candidacy under the backing of the Democratic Centre movement, said that the lack of conditions to carry out a campaign in peace and transparency was a key factor in his decision.

In his statement, he mentioned that the threats come from criminal groups with whom he clashed during his time as Minister of the Interior, and detailed that these threats include the use of long-range weapons and grenades.

In addition to the insecurity, Serrano denounced that the National Electoral Council (CNE) denied him the possibility of changing the place of his candidacy, which, according to him, responds to orders from the current government.

After the announcement of Serrano, the founder of the party that had nominated him for president, Jimmy Jairala, pointed out that «there were very serious warnings», which the CNE refused to heed. And he pointed out that in the coming hours they will evaluate as a political force the possibility of forming an alliance.

The former minister accused the CNE of acting under the direct influence of the government and pointed out that this situation reflects the serious security crisis and the complicity of state institutions.

He also stressed that the security crisis is not an isolated problem, but is closely linked to corruption and the infiltration of drug trafficking into the state apparatus.

The current government was blamed for facilitating the entry of organized crime into institutions, including the CNE, which jeopardizes the transparency and fairness of the electoral process.

Finally, Serrano regretted having to withdraw from the election contest, but said he is not willing to risk his life or that of his family.

While noting that despite his resignation, he assured that he will continue to fight for a safer Ecuador from other positions and called on citizens to unite against organized crime.