Impeachment trial in Ecuador: Guillermo Lasso proclaims his "total and unquestionable" innocence before the National Assembly

This Tuesday, the president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, appeared before the National Assembly in Quito as part of his impeachment trial for alleged embezzlement of public funds and to defend his innocence.

The Ecuadorian president is in a difficult position that could lead to him being impeached. The impeachment process promoted by the opposition accuses Lasso of embezzlement for not ending an irregular crude oil transportation contract signed by the previous presidential administration. However, the president was adamant and claimed his "total, evident and unquestionable innocence," stressing that there is no "relevant" evidence or testimony against him.

"They have created a fictitious situation," said the president, adding that those accusing him have already tried to seize power four times during his two years in office. "Those accusers who have been driven by superhuman rancor were never able to find anything; then one can only conclude that there is nothing to find, absolutely nothing. The same rancor they profess against me is the greatest proof of my innocence," he said.

During the hearing, Lasso pointed out that the alleged star witness of the accusers never appeared before the Audit Commission and that despite the lack of witnesses and evidence, his opponents have managed to subject him to this trial because of their thirst for power.

"To my questioners, I accuse them of not being up to the historical circumstances and the citizens' demands to solve their most pressing problems. I accuse them of putting their personal and petty interests ahead of the interests of citizens seeking employment and security. I accuse them because they never, throughout this trial, tried to get closer to the truth, but merely to power. I accuse them because this attempt to destabilize the government is a direct attack on democracy," he said.

Once again, Lasso recalled that the contract for which he is accused of embezzlement was signed in 2018, years before he took office in 2021. He insisted that the whole case against him was put together utilizing "a moderately plausible plot."

What happens next?

Once the trial ends, the assembly members must vote on whether to convict and remove the president. To achieve this, they must obtain the support of at least 92 of the 137 assembly members. If they do not reach the requisite number of votes, Lasso will continue his presidential mandate until 2025, when the next general elections are held. But if the opposition succeeds in ousting him, Vice President Alfredo Borrero will take over until the elections.

However, Lasso could also invoke the "muerte cruzada[two-way death]." This constitutional mechanism allows for dissolving the National Assembly in order to call for elections and thus would prevent Vice President Borrero from becoming president.