Assembly of Ecuador spent more than $ 530,000 in travel allowances and air tickets abroad

Image: EL Universo
Between January and November 2015, the National Assembly registered $ 2’031.884,47 for travel expenses and the mobilization of legislators, servers and security staff. Of this amount, $ 532,725.36 were spent in travels abroad: $ 232,889.55 were spent in travel allowances; and $ 301,835.81 in air tickets.
The highest amounts correspond to domestic air tickets ($ 958,401.06), and local travel expenses ($ 463,438.04). The lower category is fuel expenses by $ 75,320.01.
Of the 137 lawmakers who make up the Assembly, 68 traveled abroad in 2015; of these, 30 did it more than once and up to five times, in some cases.
The assemblywoman who have traveled the most accumulate five trips each one. This is Gabriela Rivadeneira, president of the Parliament, with three trips to Panama, one to Uruguay and another one to Bolivia; Esthela Acero, with three trips to Panama, one to Bolivia and another one to Mexico; and Maria Augusta Calle, with five trips to Panama.