This Tuesday, the Ecuadorian National Assembly decided to authorize the initiation of an impeachment process against President Guillermo Lasso after the approval of 88 of the 116 assembly members present. Now, the president could face impeachment.
Lasso is being accused of embezzling public funds, a crime allegedly committed through an irregular contract between the state-owned company Flota Petrolera Ecuatoriana (FLOPEC) and the private firm Amazonas Tanker.
The president has explained that the agreement in question was signed in 2018, well before he took office in 2021. Even the Legislative Oversight and Political Control Commission issued a report suggesting that the president should not be prosecuted for lack of evidence. But the legislators of that body (controlled by the opposition) decided not to approve the document.
"My government and I are under attack by an opposition that does not want to recognize the achievements of my government in just 22 months in office. They want to see me out because I am uncomfortable for many of them, not for all of them," said Lasso after assuring that he has not committed any embezzlement.
The opposition accusation assures that the president was warned that the contract was not beneficial for the country and that he did not suspend it.
🗳 Luego de la votación de los legisladores en el Pleno de la Asamblea Nacional, se aprobó la tramitación del juicio político en contra de Guillermo Lasso con 88 votos a favor. pic.twitter.com/lSiCJf2hrf
— Ecuadorplay (@EcuadorPlay) May 9, 2023
A possible dismissal
The next step involves calling a new session for the president to appear before the Assembly and for the members of Parliament to pronounce themselves in favor or against the censure and removal of the president. This would require the support of at least 92 of the 137 legislators.
"I have to defend my honor as well, I have not committed embezzlement and I have to say it to all the assembly members," said the president.
Lasso considers the option of "cross death"
Guillermo Lasso has hinted that he has no intention of allowing the vice president to assume the nation's leadership, so he is considering calling for a "cross-death" mechanism. This constitutional tool involves dissolving the National Assembly in order to call for presidential and legislative elections.
