Jan Topić

Jan Tomislav Topić Feraud (born 23 April 1983) is an Ecuadorian businessman, economist, and politician who ran for President of Ecuador in the 2023 Ecuadorian general election.[1] He was eliminated in the first round held on 20 August 2023, coming fourth with 14.66% of the vote.[2] He has served as president of Telconet since 2010. His alleged activities for the French Foreign Legion have raised concerns of Topić being a mercenary, a label that he denied. Prior to the 2023 Ecuadorian political crisis, he was briefly nominated to serve as Minister of Security by Guillermo Lasso.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Topić and the second or maternal family name is Feraud.

Jan Topić
Topić in 2023
Born
Jan Tomislav Topić Feraud

(1983-04-23) 23 April 1983
Guayaquil, Ecuador
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania
London School of Economics
Occupation(s)Businessman, economist, politician

Early life

Topić was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador in 1983 to businessman Tomislav Topić.[3] In 2005, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor's degree in economics and business. He obtained his master's degree in economics in 2012 from the London School of Economics.[3]

Military activities

He received military training in the French Foreign Legion and claimed to have fought in Ukraine during the Russian invasion and parts of Africa and Syria.[4] For this fact he has been accused of being a mercenary; however, he claimed to be an "elite professional soldier" and to have fought for France because he had dual Ecuadorian-French nationality, between 2006 and 2012.[5]

Business career

He serves as president of Telconet, a company founded by his father; since 2010.[3] He is an administrator in eight companies, among which are Academseg, Transcorpecuador, Inmobiliaria Leonortres and is a shareholder in seven companies.

In 2019, he was investigated for money laundering during the Odebrecht Case.[6]

Political career

In April 2023, he had been selected by President Guillermo Lasso to replace Minister of Security Diego Ordóñez.[7] His nomination caused controversy because of the accusations made against Topić of being a mercenary.[4] Although he accepted the position, Lasso ultimately decided not to appoint him and appointed Wagner Bravo instead.[8]

2023 presidential candidacy
Main article: 2023 Ecuadorian general election
Topić supporters in the center of Quito four days before the vote

In May 2023, following the dissolution of the National Assembly, he announced his candidacy for president of Ecuador in the upcoming general election. His candidacy was supported by the Social Christian Party.[9] Lawyer and 2021 candidate Pedro José Freile was briefly announced as his running mate,[10] until the National Electoral Council ruled the 2023 election must have parity in candidacies between men and women.[11] Journalist and lawyer Diana Jácome was later confirmed as Topic's running mate.[12]

Two polls conducted on 9 August, the day of Fernando Villavicencio's assassination, found Topić in third place narrowly behind Villavicencio for second place with Luisa Gonzalez in first place.[13] Following Villavicencio's assassination in a video released on social media, a criminal group known as Los Lobos claimed responsibility for the attack and threatened to assassinate Topić.[14][15]

On 12 August, a poll found Topić narrowly behind Gonzalez for first place with 21.7% to Gonzalez's 24.9%.[16] At the election, he came in fourth with 14.66% of the votes.[17]

References
  1. Jan Topic, aspirante a la presidencia de Ecuador: Admiro la determinación, valentía y ejecutividad de Bukele - CNN Video, retrieved 20 June 2023
  2. Elecciones Generales - Presidenta/e, CNE, retrieved 16 September 2023
  3. "¿Quién es Jan Topic? El empresario de la seguridad que quiere ser Presidente". www.vistazo.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  4. "Jan Topic, el rambo que promete salvar el Ecuador" (in Spanish). Radio La Calle. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  5. "El precandidato Jan Topić desmiente ser un mercenario" (in Spanish). 29 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  6. "Sigue investigación a Tomislav y Jan Topic y su empresa Telconet" (in Spanish). El Universo. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  7. "Así aparece en Google a Jan Topic, el 'candidato' a Secretario Nacional de Seguridad" (in Spanish). La Contra. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  8. "Jan Topic ya no reemplazará a Ordóñez en la Secretaría de Comunicación (Actualización)" (in European Spanish). www.ecuadorenvivo.com. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  9. "Jan Tópic anuncia candidatura presidencial apoyado por el PSC" (in Spanish). La Repulica. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  10. "Pedro Freile será el binomio de Jan Topic para las elecciones anticipadas" (in Spanish). El Universo. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  11. "Ecuador: Sistemas Electorales / Electoral Systems". pdba.georgetown.edu.
  12. "Jan Topic completa la fórmula presidencial con Diana Jácome" (in Spanish). El Universo. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  13. "ESTUDIO OPINIÓN – ELECCIONES PRESIDENCIALES – cerrado a Agosto 9, 2023" (in Spanish). Cedatos. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  14. "Candidate in Ecuador's presidential election Fernando Villavicencio shot dead". BBC News. 10 August 2023. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  15. "Dudas sobre la veracidad de un video en que la banda criminal Los Lobos se responsabiliza del asesinato de Fernando Villavicencio". Infobae. 10 August 2023. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  16. "Encuestas" (PDF) (in Spanish). ASCOA. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  17. "CONSEJO NACIONAL ELECTORAL". elecciones2023.cne.gob.ec. Retrieved 23 August 2023.


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