The fronts against the vice president multiply

Ecuadornews:

The scenario gets complicated. The vice president María Alejandra Vicuña faces observations from the authorities and assembly members. All of them ask for clarifications about the supposed payment of ‘tithes’ to their collaborators while they were Assembly members, in 2011 and 2013. She responds with accusations to Andrés Páez and “los correístas”.

The Attorney General’s Office released the first alert. Its subrogation holder,Ruth Palacios, will initiate an ex officio investigation. She will go to the Notary in which the former Vicuña collaborator presented his sworn statement to collect information.

The Office of the Prosecutor could also request a certification on the owner of the bank account where it is ensured that the deposits were made between 300 and1,400 dollars.

To the previous investigation of the Office of the Public Prosecutor, activities of the one indicated by the vice president are added. The former Vice President,Andrés Páez, presented yesterday at 15:30, a complaint in the Office of the Prosecutor.

The noise of the complaints was also felt in the Assembly. Legislative groups agree that the case tarnishes Lenin Moreno’s government.

The Guayaquil Assemblywoman of the FE movement, María Mercedes Cuesta, believesthat before making an accusation, the evidence must be analyzed. However, sheac knowledged that if the complaints are real there must be a sanction against Vicuña.

One way is dismissal or resignation. Luis Fernando Torres, ambateño legislator,explained that there is no room for impeachment because the allegedir regularities come from acts prior to his role as vice president. Anyway, he clarified, an investigation can be initiated from the Supervisory Commission.

Paola Vintimilla, assembly member of the Social Christian Party (PSC), sees another obstacle to political prosecution. As he explained to EXPRESO, a pronouncement from the Constitutional Court is needed to proceed against the second authority of the Executive. Said Court, however, does not exist and will not exist in the short term.

It is not the only action the Assembly can take. Ana Galarza, Assemblywoman of CREO,assures that an exhortation can be prepared for President Moreno to request the resignation of the official.

Vicuña came to the Vice Presidency by vote of the Assembly, after the corruption cases that surrounded the now incarcerated former Vice President Jorge Glas.

Among the 70 votes in favor of that appointment was that of Wilma Andrade, of the Democratic Left. She told this newspaper that the prosecution should investigate the case. Since the Assembly, she said, it must “demand that the jurisdictional entities assume with brevity.”

There is also caution within the government. President Moreno said that he leaves the competent authorities to investigate the case.

The defense arrived five and a half hours later than offered. Speaking to the press, where he did not accept questions, Vicuña said the complainant was a close collaborator who threatened to “forge a complaint” if he was not named governor of Zamora or director of the IESS in that province.

She also said that since last Monday she notarized the chats with Polivio Sagbay.She announced that she will initiate legal actions against his ex-collaborator.

According to the vice president, the complaint is financed by Páez and his correístas examinations. She even mentioned the ex-ambassador Sofía Espín as messenger of the threats.

The complaint

The complainant

Ángel Polivio Sagbay filed the complaint against the current vice president of the Republic, María Alejandra Vicuña, for the collection of fees between 2011 and2013.

Management

María Alejandra Vicuña was Assemblyman of PAIS during the period of the denunciation.She supported the management of former President Rafael Correa.

Attacks

The members of the Coristas, including Correa, accuse Vicuna of traitor and assure that the plan to denounce it comes from the Government itself. (I)

Source: https://www.expreso.ec/actualidad/vicepresidenta-mariaalejandra-vicuna-denuncia-pagos-GC2499594