First modification:
Ecuador’s Constitutional Court paved the way on March 29 for Congress to initiate a political trial against President Guillermo Lasso for the alleged crime of embezzlement, in a case involving his brother-in-law and a former government official.
With six votes in favor and three against, the Ecuadorian Constitutional Court resolved to “admit the accusation of impeachment related to the alleged crime of embezzlement” against President Guillermo Lasso, the highest court said in a statement. The magistrates rejected another cause that the National Assembly had raised for the alleged crime of concussion.
After evaluating the trial request, the Constitutional Court considered that the request “has respected the principles of political legitimacy and due process”, for which it gave the legislature the green light. The president must present evidence in his defense during the trial that follows.
Disclosure of a report
Congress, in which the majority is the opposition, although dispersed, returned to the charge against Lasso after the publication of a report by the digital media La Posta. The portal revealed an alleged corruption structure for the assignment of public positions in state companies set up by Danilo Carrera, a brother-in-law of Lasso, who has not held government positions.
Also involved in the case are Hernán Luque, former delegate of the president on the board of the Public Companies Coordinating Company (EMCO), and businessman Rubén Cherres, close to Carrera and who is being investigated by the prosecution for drug trafficking.
Lasso, who assumed the presidency in May 2021, denies the accusations and accuses Congress of trying to “destabilize” his unpopular government. Although he rejected the court ruling, the government said it would respect it.
ghost of ungovernability
Hounded by a powerful indigenous movement and massive protests, three presidents were overthrown in Ecuador between 1997 and 2005. The specter of ungovernability has once again haunted the country, where the president has faced violent demonstrations against the high cost of living that have left six dead.
Lasso already survived last June an attempt by the Legislature to dismiss him in the midst of the mobilizations. On that occasion the deputies did not gather the necessary votes. To remove a president, the will of 92 of the 137 assembly members (two thirds) is needed.
“Lasso will be impeached politically and will have to answer for his horrors and incompetence before the Assembly,” said Assemblywoman Viviana Veloz, who filed the trial request along with 58 other legislators, on Twitter. The assembly members maintain that the 67-year-old president was in charge of “protecting the links of a criminal structure in public companies.
The Executive maintained that the request of the assembly members has “innumerable errors” and that “it never had and will never have any legal or political support.” In the event that Lasso were to be removed, he will be succeeded by Vice President Alfredo Borrero.
