National Government describes as illegal the actions of the Council of the Judiciary

The National Government rejects the actions of the Council of the Judiciary (CJ), this Tuesday, August 29, 2023. In addition, it asked the country to “remain vigilant of its actions that do not meet the needs of justice that Ecuador requires”.

There is currently a crisis between the National Court and the Council of the Judiciary.

In addition, the government of Guillermo Lasso said that it “rejects the unfortunate and illegal actions of the Council of the Judiciary that seriously harm the institutionality and legal security of the country.”

It also considers that the permanence of the members involved seriously offends the dignity of the Judiciary and affects the coexistence of Ecuadorian society.

Currently, the Prosecutor’s Office is carrying out an investigation against some members of the Judiciary for the alleged crimes of influence peddling and obstruction of justice.

“It is disconcerting that those who are called to administer the Judicial Function, in a transparent manner and attached to the Constitution, are the first to violate and transgress it,” said the current government.

In addition, he indicated that Guillermo Lasso took away the confidence, in June 2022, of Xavier Muñoz, who acts as a delegate member of the Executive Function. The President made that decision “because he did not feel represented by his actions.”

The Government also described as “embarrassing” the procedure used to dismiss the judge of the National Court of Justice, Walter Macías.

Crisis between the Judiciary and the National Court

The crisis that exists between the Council of the Judiciary (CJ) and the National Court (CNJ) deepened last night (August 29, 2023), since the Plenary session of the latter institution withdrew its confidence in Wilman Terán, head of the CJ.

Through a statement, the magistrates of the National Court indicated that Terán no longer “presents them.” They also urged the members of the Judiciary to “step aside.”