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Serrano’s situation upsets legislative agenda
Posted On 01 Mar 2018
Ecuadornews:
In the session of the Assembly to form the Council of Transitional Citizen Participation, a change was achieved in the agenda that included, with the vote of 127 legislators, the debate on the possibility that the Legislative head, José Serrano; and the prosecutor Carlos Baca, attend the plenary session.
A common theme has united the opposition groups and the members of the so-called Civic Revolution group: the total reconfiguration of the National Assembly.
The audio that was exposed last Monday by the State Attorney General, Carlos Baca, triggered a dispute in the Legislative. Yesterday, in the middle of the session called to elect the 7 members of the Council of Transitional Citizen Participation, there was a change in the agenda that since Tuesday was looked for by the opposition and Citizen Revolution caucuses.
Homero Castanier, from CREO, requested the appearance of José Serrano and Baca to explain the events surrounding the exposed audio. He asked that the proposal to dismiss the President of the Legislative be debated. However, this idea did not have the support of the majority. PAIS voted against. On the other hand, the legislators of MADERA DE GUERRERO abstained as well as those of Suma and a part of the Bin.
For the Assemblywoman for Citizen’s Revolution (RC), Sofía Espín, the confidence that the people had placed in President Serrano was already broken. However, she said that it is necessary to analyze the situation, but in advance she asked that “attitudes and actions be deposed and that we do not cling to the charges”.
This was said based on a statement that the same block spread via Twitter in which they requested explanations to Serrano, requested the appearance of the head of the Prosecutor and proposed a total restructuring of the National Assembly.
Franklin Samaniego (RC) said that the condition for making the positions of the 29 members of the bloc available was for the Assembly to approve the total restructuring, both of the Presidency, as Vice Presidents, the Legislative Administration Council and commissions. “After his appearance (Serrano), if we do not trust him to continue at the head of the National Assembly, take a step to the side,” he said.
Luis Pachala (CREO) affirmed that the plenary session has the capacity to make decisions and resolutions to restructure and make changes within the Legislative. “We need new winds for the Assembly to work.” Although Héctor Yépez (SUMA) did not advance an agreement of the bench, he did say that he will support the request for both appearance and restructuring. Nor did he reject the possible cross-death.
Luis Fernando Torres (PSC) argued that having enough votes and with some passages of the law could find the mechanisms for complete restructuring. Henry Cucalón, leader of the bench, was more meticulous. “Serrano and Baca have staged a shameful incident,” adding that he will support the appearance of both. Subsequently a decision must be made within the Legislative, but did not rule out that they request the separation of Serrano’s post. The ways he gave for the separation of Serrano from office were: the voluntary resignation or that the Assembly asks for it with a process, with a replacement or by dismissal.
This issue was not accepted by the PAIS block. For María José Carrión, the law does not authorize a restructuring before the two years that the functions of the current period of the National Assembly last. Although she argued that the issue has been of national concern, she said that they will support a motion for the President of the Assembly to give explanations.
However, she argued that the audio would be framed within the supervisory powers of the owner of the Assembly. “The President (Serrano) has an important leadership and there are changes in the Assembly between one period and another. We are going to support a militant comrade, “she added.
On the other hand, Serrano showed his opening for a next appointment to appear, together with the prosecutor Baca to the plenary session of the Assembly. He added that there is more information about Baca, which will be presented in the corresponding instances. And he said that the problems between him and Baca must be resolved before the courts. He said he does not hold on to the position. “The day I act without ethics and against the country I will not be able to see my children, wife, mother or any citizen in the eyes.” He said that the recording is an “illicit act” that should be prosecuted.
Voices outside the Legislature
In Macas, President Lenin Moreno referred to the issue. He said that “it is not pleasant at all what has happened to us as Alianza PAIS and to me, as its President”. In the discussion he pointed out that it is necessary to analyze the explanations and it must be known at what time the audio corresponds and at what moment it was done.
La Ecuarunari announced that they will carry out demonstrations throughout the country. For Yaku Pérez there must be a “real minga against corruption (…) they will have to go home and if they do not, they should go to jail”. For the mayor of Guayaquil, Jaime Nebot, the disputes between these functions are the result of “totalitarianism”, so he asked that the issue pass from the political to the ordinary justice. The Mayor criticized that the bill presented by the Christian Social Party and sponsored by the bloc has not been processed.
Process
Audio in the file
Prosecutor Fabián Salazar incorporated the audio of the conversation that the president of the Assembly, José Serrano, with former Comptroller Carlos Pólit, had with the judicial file 44-2018.
6 are the grounds for the cessation of functions of the holder of the Assembly, according to the legislative law.
Recognition
Salazar sent a letter to the Flagrant Offenses Unit of Quito requesting judicial authorization to conduct the recognition of the conversation
Elected 7 members of the transitory CPCCS
Yesterday the 7 members that will make up the full Council of Citizen Participation and Social Control (CPCCS) transitory were elected officially, five of which were held last night.
The event was scheduled for 7:00 p.m., however, just after 8:45 p.m. was held due to the lack of sworn statements of assets, a requirement for said process.
The board members are Julio César Trujillo, Luis Hernández, Eduardo Mendoza, Xavier Zavala and Pablo Dávila. The meeting was not attended by Myriam Félix Alcívar and Luis Macas, who obtained 99 and 103 votes in favor, respectively. The latter will be held today at 10:00 am since they are traveling from Calceta and Cuenca.
“Members, you will faithfully comply with the provisions of the Constitution,” the head of the Assembly, José Serrano, told the new officials. Then, the counselors, one by one, headed by Julio César Trujillo, signed the act of possession.
Julio César Trujillo obtained 105 affirmative votes, 23 negative ones and one abstention; Luis Macas had 103 affirmative votes, 22 negative and 3 abstentions. Luis Hernández was elected with 90 affirmative votes, 23 negative votes and 15 abstentions. Pablo Dávila obtained 102 affirmative votes, 22 negative and 2 abstentions. Xavier Zavala Egas obtained 73 affirmative votes, 45 negative ones and 11 abstentions; Eduardo Mendoza reached 101 votes in favor, 23 negatives and two abstentions. And Myriam Félix López had 99 affirmative votes, 22 negative and 7 abstentions.
Prior to the appointment, the correístas legislators abandoned the possession. They voted ‘No’ on all the triples. In addition, next Tuesday from 06:30 they will appoint alternate counselors. (I)
