Supporters of former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa in front of the Court of Justice in Quito, September 7, 2020. -

Jose Jacome / EFE / SIPA

The elections next February in Ecuador will be done without him.

Rafael Correa will not be able to run for the vice-presidency of the country as he had announced in mid-August.

Ecuadorian justice confirmed Monday in cassation the sentence of the former president to eight years in prison for corruption.

Tried in absentia

A court of the Supreme Court has, "by a majority (...) rejected the appeals in cassation lodged by the appellants and upheld the sentence for corruption" pronounced in April against the former head of state (2007-2017) and 17 others, including ex-ministers and business leaders, the court said.

Rafael Correa has lived in Belgium since 2017 and the end of his last term when he was not yet the subject of any trial.

Tried in absentia, his first conviction in April was confirmed in mid-July on appeal.

Finally lo lograron.

In tiempo record sacan sentencia “definitiva” para inhabilitarme como candidato


No entienden que lo único que hacen es aumentar el apoyo popular


Yo estaré bien.

Denle toda la solidaridad a perseguidos allá


Recuerden: a lo único que nos condenan es a vencer pic.twitter.com/3XKCPBh3Bi

- Rafael Correa (@MashiRafael) September 7, 2020

“They finally did.

In record time, they obtained a final sentence to disqualify me as a candidate, ”Rafael said.

“They don't understand that all they do is increase my popular support.

I'm fine.

Remember: the only thing they condemn us to do is win, ”he added.

After a last resort that the defense can still file, the former president will be banned for life from appearing before the electorate, as established by the country's Constitution in cases of corruption.

The Court of Justice ruled that Rafael Correa and several of his former collaborators received bribes in exchange for contracts with various companies.

The former president says he is innocent and denounces a plot fomented by his rival, his former vice-president and current president, Lenin Moreno.

Rafael Correa is also under investigation for the 2012 kidnapping in Colombia of opposition leader Fernando Balda.

According to Ecuadorian law, however, he cannot be tried in absentia for this crime.

World

Former president Rafael Correa sees his prison sentence confirmed

World

In Ecuador, resignation of Minister of Foreign Affairs José Valencia

  • Conviction

  • Latin America

  • Ecuador

  • Corruption

  • World