Gustavo Larrea: “The political force of ‘El Correismo’ is falling apart”

He is the leader of Democracy Yes, an organization allied to the Government. Gustavo Larrea spoke with this newspaper about the chats of the 2012-2016 Bribes case, corruption and the former president.

The 2012-2016 Bribes case found that AP charged state contractors and bribed them to finance their hosts. What does all that research reveal?

It clearly reveals that there was corruption in the regime of former President Correa, that senior officials were involved and who conducted that orchestra was Correa. He gave the orders on how and what to do. Pamela Martínez was an instrument of the execution of these actions. In his government, the management of the powers of the State was absolute, the concentration of power was despotic and the one in charge was Rafael Correa exclusively.

The chats reveal that the resolutions and judgments of justice were addressed from the Presidency.

They evidence the allegations that were made many years ago. They had sustenance, they were not to discredit the correist regime. There was already evidence, now it is corroborated that in Ecuador there was a great scam to the Ecuadorian people.

In the chats the power of the former legal secretary of the Presidency Alexis Mera is also revealed, who was following the ex-president’s orders.

Mera had the role of accommodating the wishes of the autocrat, of interpreting as they liked the Constitution and laws. With simple resolutions and regulations they changed laws or the Political Charter itself. It was a mockery of the rule of law. Mera was the instrument that replaced the Assembly, the courts of Justice because in his office the parliamentary resolutions were elaborated and the judgments and sentences were addressed. It is a clear demonstration that the former president and his team ran the country outside the law.

What do you think of the private prosecutor’s accusation against Correa and 26 government officials?

The Procurator took a step that surprised us because that entity had been deaf, mute and depending on what the former president ordered. Today it intervenes to protect the state assets. In this marasmus of corruption and bribery, is there even a small chance that Correa was not aware of all this? It is impossible, everything that was done was by order of him. The former president intervened in everything and in all the “insults” (sabatinas) directed the entire public policy of the country. Correa has absolute responsibility in the management of his Government.

What should we expect from justice in this case?

The Prosecutor’s Office is responsible for demonstrating the crime as he is doing, investigating, with absolute transparency. There must be transparency and in no case persecution. Those who committed crimes should be punished for them and not for any persecution.

But citizens do not believe much in justice because they have been waiting for two years.

There are important advances, we have several ministers of state and high authorities imprisoned and prosecuted. Many of them are fugitives. There is an action of justice that has been pushed and promoted by the Ecuadorian people. But there are also delays, we do not have confidence in all the judges of the National Court of Justice because many were handpicked by correism. Now there is an independent prosecutor and that will help the fight against corruption gain more strength in the coming months. As you have already acquired and I hope it continues. We will continue to press for justice.

The correistas try to generate chaos and deinstitutionalize the country. How do you look at this?

They have conspired against the rule of law more than a year and a half ago. They have done a dirty campaign saying that Lenín Moreno resigns from office. They promoted a national strike that was an absolute failure, they don’t have the strength to do so. There is a myth that they are strong. But let’s look at the election results: when Correa left in 2017, he had a 56% popularity. Months later, the popular consultation was held in 2018 and he toured the country for No. The result was: 36% for No vs. 64% for Yes. In the March 2019 elections, his political movement did not win a single Only mayor and the average of their vote among mayors, prefectures and councilors did not reach 6% of the vote. This is evidence that his political strength falls apart. And with what happened in the country during the last two weeks, that collapse will be deeper.

Why is there a percentage of people who still believe in him?

Assuming there is 20% or more, the truth is that it is not in 56% and can no longer obtain the 36% of votes obtained in the popular consultation. There is a downturn, they still have a presence that is weaker every day. As the truth comes to light, that weakness will become evident and I believe that they not only have a legal problem, but a political one of weakening. He has two prison orders: one by case Balda and another by Bribes 2012-2016.

Regarding the announcement of the number one of the FARC about retaking arms, you were linked to that narco-guerrilla.

Correa made a dirty campaign against me, since 2009. My only relationship with Colombia was to participate in the possibility of the guerrillas liberating Clara Rojas, Consuelo Perdomo and Emanuel, in an international operation involving 12 countries. But that did not happen. He also said that there were emails on a computer, but the Colombian Prosecutor’s Office said those emails were implemented. In the bribes chats, Correa asks Mera what happens if she tells me that “I am the man in the briefcase.” Mera replies: No, because that is injury. They have always stigmatized and tried to hit and annul me.

https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/politica/3/gustavo-larrea-caso-sobornos-expresidente