The presidential candidate for the opposition alliance Union for Hope (Unes), Andrés Arauz, demanded that the president of Ecuador, Lenin Moreno, take responsibility for the consequences of prison riots occurring in the country.

Quito.- In view of the riots registered on Tuesday in the prisons of Guayaquil, Turi and Cotopaxi, which left at least 75 inmates dead, Arauz demanded Moreno to protect the lives of police officers, people deprived of their freedom, and all citizens.

The presidential hopeful, winner of the first round of elections on February 7th, expressed his solidarity with the families of the victims, according to a statement published on his website.

@We demand Moreno take responsibility and protect the lives of police officers, people deprived of their freedom, and all citizens. The country can no longer tolerate the absence of leadership and decision-making in favor of the lives of Ecuadorians." Soon this nightmare will end!

- Andrés Arauz (@ecuarauz) February 23, 2021

Andres Arauz argued that never before had the South American country known such a huge breakdown of the prison system.

"We live regrettable episodes of riots, violence, and death. The co-government has allowed crime to take over our cities and steal the tranquility of Ecuadorians," he said.

He pointed out that Tuesday, February 23 will go down in history as a very sad day for Ecuador that demonstrates negligence, incapacity, and abandonment in all areas of public policy.

Arauz, who obtained 32.72 percent of the votes cast on February 7, will face Guillermo Lasso, the right-wing candidate of the Creando Oportunidades (CREO) movement, who obtained 19.74 percent of the votes. (RHC)