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Lenin Moreno disposes to take away the functions of the vice president
Posted On 04 Dec 2018
Ecuadornews:
A history that repeats itself. The President of the Republic, Lenin Moreno, yesterday announced his decision to withdraw the functions of Vice President Maria Alejandra Vicuña, so that she can defend herself against the accusation sagainst her over the alleged collection of tithes from her former collaborators when she was an Assemblywoman. . A similar announcement was made when Jorge Glas held the second magistracy of the country and was accused of being immersed in the corruption of Odebrecht.
“I have decided to release Vice President María Alejandra Vicuña from her duties,so that she can exercise, without interference of any kind, her right toself-defense. That’s why I release her from functions. Because of the delicacy of these functions, I am entrusting them to the Secretary General, José Agusto Briones. That the time and the resources are always destined to a single objective: to serve the Ecuadorians, working for the common good, “said Moreno.
In the morning hours, Vicuña on her Twitter account announced that she had asked the president for a leave without pay to support her defense in the Prosecutor’s Office, for the investigations that have been initiated against her.
“With the purpose of not distracting the fulfillment of the multiple functions that you have entrusted to me, I consider Mr. President that in this first stage, it is my responsibility and duty with the country to ask you to grant me a license without remuneration until December 31st. present year, so that this process does not affect the management of the Government “, published Vicuña.
Moreno during his speech never said whether or not he accepted the license request,but it was a decision he had made. In this regard the Minister of the Interior,María Paula Romo, when asked if there was any request for Vicuña, responded:”The president announced it in the terms that they have heard.”
The denunciation against the vice president arises from the sworn statement ofÁngel Sagbay, ex-adviser of Vicuña in her first term of Assemblyman for Guayasby Alianza PAIS. Sagbay affirms that Vicuña had asked him for financial contributions to keep him in office. The amounts collected allegedly went to the group Alianza Bolivariana Alfarista (ABA), in which Vicuña militates. The former official explained that he had to deposit 300 dollars monthly to the Vicuña account, as a supposed contribution to ABA, which he did from June 1,2011 to May 31, 2012. In June 2012 he received a promotion, so the amount also went up to $ 1,400 per month.
Vicuña,last week, in a radio interview acknowledged the deposits that were for ABA,but argued that they were deposited in his personal account because the group was not registered in the National Electoral Council
Moreno made the announcement during the possession of the new ministers: José Agusto Briones as General Secretary of the Administration; María Paula Romo, who will also be in charge of the Ministry of the Interior; Milton Luna as Minister of Education; Rosa Prado to the Ministry of Tourism; Marcelo Kills the Environment portfolio; and Marlo Brito at the head of the Strategic Intelligence Center(CIES).
Austerity
Announcement of Senplades is announced
As part of the process of austerity and efficiency of the State carried out by the Government, the President of the Republic, Lenin Moreno, announced that it has been decided to eliminate the National Secretariat of Planning and Development(Senplades) and the creation of the General Secretariat of the Public Administration, which will be chaired by José Agusto Briones.
In addition, it decided to merge the Ministry of the Interior and the Secretariat for Policy Management, which will become the new Ministry of Government. This portfolio of State will be in charge of María Paula Romo, who will manage theNational Police and will also be the one who carries out the political management of the Government.
The merger process will take three months. The issuance of the executive decree is expected.
The changes
José Agusto Briones, Secretary General of the Presidency
It is linked to issues of corporate management, advice and training for the formulation of public policies, planning and management of programs and projects. She is in charge of the functions of the Vice President María Alejandra Vicuña.
María Paula Romo, Minister of the Interior and Politics
She becomes the ‘strong woman’ of the regime after assuming the management of thecountry’s internal security and policy. It will transform the Ministry of the Interior and the Secretariat of Political Management, which will become the Ministry of Government.
Milton Luna Tamayo, Minister of Education
Will replace Fander Falconí’s functions. It has been linked to education issues because it is part of the Social Contract for Education. It has been one of the most critical to the educational policies implemented by the Rafael Correa regime.
Rosa Prado de Holguín, Minister of Tourism
Replaces Enrique Ponce de León. He has studies in architecture, linguistics, English,French and Italian; manager and representative of the Travel Agency Five Continental, commercial manager of TAME, sales manager of America Airlines.
Marcelo Mata Guerrero, Minister of Environment
Will replace Tarcicio Granizo in functions. He is an expert in industrial hygiene;official delegate of Ecuador in the Environmental Impact Assessment Process IAIA, ORG, Perth Australia; He worked in the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum in2007.
Marlo Brito, from the strategic intelligence center
Replacement of Jorge Costa Palacios. Bachelor of Communication, specialist in cultural management, project design, communication and network portals, local development, environmental education and interculturality. He is a social researcher. (I)
