Political trial against Guillermo Lasso is scheduled for Tuesday, May 16
The political trial against President Guillermo Lasso in the Plenary of the Assembly is scheduled for Tuesday, May 16, 2023, announced Assemblywoman Viviana Veloz, one of the proponents of this cause, this Friday, May 12.
“It is ready. It has already been notified and now it must be called. The call will be made, as far as I am aware, on Sunday to call a plenary session on Tuesday,” he said.
This will take place after the night of this Thursday, May 11, the General Secretariat of the Assembly notified the president about this case and distributed the file to the 137 legislators.
“Let’s hope that the President comes to face the Ecuadorians,” said Veloz, who also confirmed that she will act as interpellant.
The legislator affirmed that, at the moment, talks are in progress with the Social Christian Esteban Torres and Mireya Pazmiño, separated from the Pachakutik bench and related to Conaie, to define a second questioner.
The procedure will take place once on May 9, with 88 votes in favor, the Plenary gave way to this constitutional accusation against Lasso, once the Oversight Commission failed to approve a report.
The legislative opposition led by correísmo and the PSC accuses Lasso of embezzlement (or embezzlement of public funds) for not having taken action against allegations of irregularities in a Flopec contract with Amazonas Tankers for the rental of oil tankers, signed in the previous government.
In its first article, the plenary resolution says:
“(…). The diversion or distraction of the funds generated annually by these “pools” of companies with which FLOPEC EP had a contractual relationship in the transportation of crude oil is evident.
Precisely for this reason, the National Assembly accuses the Constitutional President of the Republic, since together with Hernán Luque Lecaro they defined the continuation of oil transport contracts in favor of third parties, aware that they represented a loss for the State. Consequently, the Constitutional President of the Republic knew of the corruption structure in FLOPEC EP.
He never fulfilled his constitutional duty provided for in article 233 of the Fundamental Charter and, contrary to removing and criminally denouncing the officials responsible for these crimes, he allowed Vice Admiral Johnny Estupiñán to be illegally dismissed from the position of Manager, despite the fact that he was he who sent him a report and a letter denouncing said irregularities”.
The vote of a possible censure and dismissal of Lasso, according to the Legislative Law, must take place five days after the end of the debate. To approve the motion, at least 92 votes are required.
https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/politica/juicio-politico-guillermo-lasso-fecha-asamblea.html