Ecuador: Constitutional Court authorizes impeachment trial against Lasso

Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso during an interview in Quito, April 26, 2023 (illustration image). REUTERS - SANTIAGO ARCOS

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

Ecuador's Constitutional Court on Wednesday (March 29th) authorized the opening of an impeachment trial for embezzlement against right-wing President Guillermo Lasso, requested by the opposition-dominated parliament.

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With our correspondent in Ecuador, Eric Samson

While Ecuador is still healing its wounds after an earthquake in the south of the country and a dramatic landslide in the Andean city of Alausi, President Guillermo Lasso will have to dedicate part of his forces to defend himself against an opposition Congress and an indigenous sector with the firm intention of removing him.

Although it did not uphold two charges relating to an alleged abuse of power by President Lasso, the Constitutional Court authorized by a majority of six to three the holding of a political trial for alleged corruption and crimes against state security. The head of state will have twice ten days to defend himself and the vote will normally take place in May. The opposition will have to win 92 votes out of a total of 137 MPs.

The option of dissolution

The accusation against Lasso, who has ruled the country since 2021, is based mainly on articles on the website La Posta about alleged links between his brother-in-law Danilo Carrera and public officials accused of corruption. The opposition in Parliament considered that Guillermo Lasso had been warned of the existence of this device and that he had not acted to stop it.

Guillermo Lasso denies these accusations and accuses parliamentarians of wanting to "destabilize" his government. Although disappointed by the Constitutional Court's decision, the government indicated that it would respect it. The president has another card in his game. Rather than wait for an announced impeachment, he could dissolve the National Assembly and govern by decree until a general election is held when he can run again.

Guillermo Lasso is facing growing unpopularity in his country, scene in June 2022 of violent protests against the cost of living that left six dead and more than 600 injured. MPs had already tried in June 2022 to impeach him. But the opposition, divided, had not managed to gather enough votes.

(

With AFP)

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  • Ecuador
  • Guillermo Lasso
  • Justice
  • Corruption