Pedro Briones’ death comes after a presidential candidate was murdered at a campaign event last week

Fernando Villavicencio, a vocal critic of corruption, was killed Wednesday at a campaign event

He is currently ruling by decree after dissolving the national assembly legislature

The decision comes after President Guillermo Lasso invoked the constitution’s “two-way death” provision to dissolve the National Assembly

Lasso’s announcement came one day after presenting his defense in an impeachment process

Xavier Vera is alleged to have arranged jobs at state oil firm Petroecuador in exchange for bribes

Virgilio Saquicela was supported by politicians seeking to impeach President Guillermo Lasso

The Ecuadorian president is accused of turning a blind eye to a “structure of corruption” in a state-owned oil transportation company

The US$1.6 billion operation will be the biggest ever debt-for-nature swap