The National Assembly of Ecuador discusses the impeachment of President Guillermo Lasso

First modification: 06/26/2022 – 05:17Last modification: 06/26/2022 – 05:24

The National Assembly of Ecuador discusses the impeachment of the president. A petition promoted by the Union for Hope caucus, the wing of Correismo in Congress.

This request for the removal of the president is based on article 130 of the Constitution number 2, which states that in the event of a serious political crisis and social unrest, the National Assembly can call new elections.

The session began with the intervention of the Legal Secretary of the Presidency, Fabián Pozo, representing the president, who argued that there are no reasons to support said request.

In the middle of the debate, the president announced the repeal of the state of emergency, which was one of CONAIE’s demands to advance with the dialogue. In addition, that it is one of the supports to argue an internal crisis and to be able to call for new elections as dictated by the crossed death.

The authorities assured that they have made that decision because the social crisis would have ended, despite the different mobilizations and roadblocks that are still registered in the country.

The first meeting was held between leaders of CONAIE and the Government

These first approaches took place after a call by the head of the National Assembly, Virgilio Saquicela, to reach a future dialogue.

The talks took place in the Basilica of the National Vote, one of the iconic churches in the capital. According to Saquicela, nothing specific was agreed but a first meeting between both parties was possible.

For its part, the indigenous movement, as usual, assured that the decisions made will be resolved in the Assembly, and will depend on the Government’s compliance with its 10 demands, which contain claims such as a freeze and reduction in fuel prices, setting prices fair to the products of the field and demands for the rights of indigenous communities, among others.

Therefore, the actions in fact, as the president of CONAIE, Leonidas Iza, says, are maintained and the strike continues. Different actions were even carried out during the day such as a mobilization called by indigenous women and new assemblies were held.

Government responses to respond to the social crisis

In the midst of the tense atmosphere that hits the Andean country of Ecuador, President Guillermo Lasso has made several announcements in less than 24 hours that have intensified popular annoyance.

Although he provided a response to the demands made by CONAIE, such as increasing the development bond from 50 to 55 dollars, he has indicated that no strategic sector will be privatized, forgiving public bank loans of up to 3,000 dollars, among others. These offers were not well received by the indigenous bases.

Likewise, in one of the most violent days of mobilization that took place on the 11th, the president confirmed that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and ordered the national police to allow the entry of the indigenous delegations so that they can carry out their Assembly. .

Lasso’s responses were criticized by the president of CONAIE, who questioned whether the government really wants to move forward with a dialogue given by his contagion (in less than two days he announced his recovery).

In the same way, he again rejected the appropriation of the House of Culture by the Government, since it is considered one of the traditional places in Quito, in supporting cultural and social demands.

Finally, one of the announcements that further divided the situation was the violent displacement of the indigenous delegations from the peace centers in the vicinity of the Salesian and Central Universities.

Given the escalation of violence in the social protest, the Government assured that the response by the police would go to a level two where the use of pellets against the protesters will be used under the legality of the progressive use of force.

Mortal victims in the context of the national strike

Destroyed streets, blocked roads, clashes between the police and the protesters, speeches that have divided the country and what has struck the most in the context of the strike… the deaths of the protesters. They have generated the reactions of national and international human rights organizations. The Alliance of Human Rights Organizations has confirmed the deaths of 5 people, 68 human rights violations, 166 injuries, and 123 arrests.

Likewise, Amnesty International called on the Government in the context of the death of the first deceased during the days of mobilizations in the Ecuadorian Amazon due to the excessive use of force.

Similarly, the repression denounced in the peace points also caused UNICEF to make its statement, warning about the presence of babies and children in that area. It is known that within the indigenous worldview, families mobilize together in the days of resistance.

With EFE and local media