A judge in Ecuador has officially ordered that former left-wing presidential candidate Luisa Gonzalez remain in custody following her controversial arrest on alleged money laundering charges. The ruling on Friday came just a day after the 48-year-old politician, who previously challenged right-wing leader Daniel Noboa, was detained in the rural town of Canuto.

Gonzalez, her political party, and her close ally, former President Rafael Correa, have strongly condemned the arrest, characterizing it as politically motivated persecution by the authorities. Several other high-ranking members of Gonzalez’s Citizen Revolution party have also recently faced severe legal challenges, including Guayaquil Mayor Aquiles Alvarez and former Vice President Jorge Glas, who is currently serving a prison sentence.

Prosecutors allege that Gonzalez is one of seven individuals under formal investigation regarding the financing of the 2023 presidential campaign. The ongoing probe reportedly centers on half a million dollars funneled into advertising during the electoral race. In response, Gonzalez has consistently denied any wrongdoing, dismissing the allegations as entirely absurd.

The Ecuadorian regime, led by Noboa who is known as a close ally of the US establishment, has increasingly cracked down on political dissent. Notably, the opposition Citizen Revolution party has subsequently been banned from fielding candidates in upcoming local elections, signaling a deepening authoritarian crisis in the nation.

Source: www.aljazeera.com