Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso, besieged by the parliamentary opposition, without allies and with low levels of popularity, faces impeachment and possible dismissal in the National Assembly, which accuses him of embezzlement of public funds.
The Constitutional Court gave the process a free hand after approving a trial request raised by the opposition majority of the Assembly that for the second time tries to end Lasso’s presidential term that began in May 2021.
The Communications Secretariat of the Presidency rejected the court’s decision but found that the government respects the judgment admitting the trial, which “in no way validates the arguments raised” by the Legislature.
Next, AP explains the accusation against Lasso and the keys to the process.
WHAT IS THE ECUADORIAN PRESIDENT ACCUSED OF?
The assembly members hold the president responsible for the operation of a corruption structure that would have appropriated public funds through contracts between the public company Flota Petrolera Ecuatoriana and the company Amazonas Tanker.
According to an examination by the Comptroller’s Office, these contracts were detrimental to the fiscal coffers, despite which the coordinator of the public companies renewed a contract for the provision of services with the presumed approval of Lasso, who also did not oppose the dismissal of an official who had improved those contracts.
WHO IS REQUESTING THE IMPEACHMENT OF LASSO?
For the formulation of the accusations and the request for a trial, the opposition led by the largest bench in the Assembly, the Union for Hope party of former President Rafael Correa (2007-2027), joined by the Social Christian Party, of right-wing, and dissidents from the Democratic Left and the Pachakutik indigenous movement party.
It has not yet been defined who will be the interpellants who will act in the political trial.
WHAT IS THE TRIAL PROCESS LIKE?
The first step is the formal notification by the Constitutional Court to the president of the Assembly, who will have three days to send it to the Legislative Administration Council, which decides which projects or initiatives go through or not, where Lasso lacks a majority.
If that instance gives the go-ahead, it will go to the Oversight Committee of the Assembly, which has 10 days for the president to exercise his right to defense, another similar period for the presentation of evidence by both parties and another 10 days for the preparation of a final report.
After that, the president of the Assembly will have five days to convene the plenary session and address the final part of the political prosecution, with debate and voting.
For Lasso to be removed, 92 votes of the 137 legislators are needed.
CAN YOU BE REMOVED WITHOUT HAVING PRIOR CRIMINAL SENTENCE?
Yes, impeachment is separate from any prosecution or criminal investigation. President Lasso faces impeachment for an alleged crime of embezzlement, whose criminal proceedings are still under prior investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office. It is in the initial phases and the president has not been charged or accused or convicted by criminal proceedings.
The alleged criminal act was committed in 2018, when Lasso was not yet president, but the president was announced about it in a letter from the former manager of the public company involved.
IF REMOVED, WHO WILL SUCCEED LASSO?
According to the constitution, Vice President Alfredo Borrero, 67 years old and a doctor by profession, would assume the presidency, who came to power elected in tandem with Lasso, a former right-wing banker.
IS THERE ANY ALTERNATIVE TO IMPEACHMENT?
At any time, and without the need for approval from another State body, President Lasso can activate a constitutional figure of dissolution of the Legislature, known as cross death, which would allow him to govern by decree for up to six months until he must convene new presidential and legislative elections.
In that period, he could run for re-election.
WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME THE ASSEMBLY TRIED TO REMOVE LASSO?
In June 2022, the opposition did not achieve the 92 votes necessary to approve Lasso’s impeachment trial after a prolonged indigenous strike demanding a reduction in fuel prices that led to violent protests. For more than three weeks, the country was virtually paralyzed by roadblocks by indigenous people. The stoppage left a balance of 1,200 million dollars in losses, 800 million corresponding to the private sector.
