The last phase of the political trial of Guillermo Lasso began in Ecuador: ten questions to understand the process

The final stage of the impeachment trial of Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso began on Tuesday without it being clear if the Assembly (parliament) will manage to gather the necessary votes to remove him or if the president will use a constitutional remedy to dissolve the Legislative.

The 872nd session on Tuesday was installed with 109 of 137 legislators present, according to the call that was made on Sunday.

The process began at the end of March and since then has advanced in different instances in the Assembly, where Lasso has minimal support and is cornered by a fierce opposition led by the Union for Hope party of former President Rafael Correa (2007-2017).

The legislators accuse the president of embezzlement of public funds, which has been denied by Lasso and the opposition has not been able to prove either, despite which the process has been maintained and is expected to end next weekend when the assembly members vote on the motion of censure and dismissal.

Who is Guillermo Lasso?

Guillermo Lasso is a 67-year-old former banker, who won the presidency in Ecuador in 2021. Photo: Federico Parra / AFP

Guillermo Lasso is a 67-year-old former banker, who won the presidency in Ecuador in 2021, in his third attempt, with a proposal to achieve economic growth with social justice, in a country that had been hit by the financial crisis exacerbated by the covid-19 pandemic.

Leader of the center-right movement Creando Oportunidades (CREO), during the campaign he maintained that the schemes of left and right "have lost validity globally", but he came to the elections allied with the right-wing Social Christian Party.

Born in Guayaquil in the bosom of a middle-class family, this shareholder of the Bank of Guayaquil says he understands the anguish of poverty because he also suffered shortages in his youth, when he had to work to support his parents and pay for his studies. ​

What awaits the president this week?

The Assembly convened for this Tuesday the session for the final stretch of the trial. Photo: Reuters

The Assembly began this Tuesday at 10 (12:00 in Argentina) the session for the final stretch of the trial of Lasso, who was scheduled to arrive at the Legislative, a little later, around noon local accompanied by his cabinet and other State authorities.

In this session the accusers have two hours to present the evidence against the president and then the president will have the same deadline to present the exculpatory evidence. Then both parties will have an hour for possible replies.

Later each of the 137 assembly members will be able to speak for 10 minutes and then there will be a pause. The final session is expected to take place over the weekend in which Lasso's fate will be decided.

What is Lasso accused of?

Banners in favor of the impeachment of Lasso, in the National Assembly. Photo: Rodrigo Buendía / AFP

He is accused of not having intervened to prevent or denounce a corruption structure in the contract for the transport of crude oil abroad between the state company Flota Petrolera Ecuatoriana and the company Amazonas Tankers, which would have caused a millionaire damage to the State.

The assembly members say that Lasso did not oppose the contract or the dismissal of an official who had recommended ending the trade agreement.

The government has indicated that there is no evidence of the economic damages caused and the Comptroller's Office has not found evidence of the accusation. There are no criminal proceedings in relation to the issue.

How are the forces distributed in the Assembly?

A solid majority of the Legislature integrates a coalition of left-wing parties such as Union for Hope, right-wing parties such as the Social Christian Party, the political force of the indigenous Pachakutik and several independent legislators.

The opposition is in the majority, but dispersed in different blocs. Photo: Reuters

How many votes are needed to remove him?

The law provides that they be at least two-thirds of the 137 assembly members, that is, at least 92 votes.

Is there any way to prevent the trial?

No, the trial cannot be suspended but the president could activate a constitutional remedy that authorizes him to dissolve the Assembly without authorization from any state agency.

The trial cannot be suspended, but Lasso could dissolve the Assembly. Photo: EFE

This would allow him to rule by decree for up to six months under the control of the Constitutional Court and in parallel call presidential and legislative elections.

Can he be removed from office if he has a prior criminal conviction?

Yes, impeachment runs separately from any criminal prosecution or investigation. President Lasso faces impeachment for the alleged crime of embezzlement, whose criminal process is still in the preliminary investigation stage by the Prosecutor's Office. The president has not been charged or charged with criminal proceedings.

If he is dismissed, who succeeds him?

According to the constitution, Vice President Alfredo Borrero, 67 years old and a doctor by profession, who came to power elected in binomial with Lasso, would assume the presidency.

Can Lassus do anything to prevent his removal?

Yes, at any time you can activate the dissolution of the Assembly, also known as cross-death, which is a constitutional attribution that does not require the approval of another state body.

This will allow him to govern by decree for up to six months, with the approval of the Constitutional Court, meanwhile presidential and legislative elections must be called.

Is this the first time his impeachment has been sought?

No, this is the second time. The first was in June 2022 when the opposition failed to reach its goal by gathering 88 votes to remove Lasso. On that occasion, the president was accused of preventing the country from facing a serious internal upheaval caused by an indigenous strike that demanded the reduction of fuel prices.

The indigenous people paralyzed the country for almost three weeks, blocking roads and preventing daily activity in the main cities. The strike caused the country 1,200 million dollars in losses, 800 million corresponding to the private sector.

With information from the Associated Press

ap

See also

Drug Trafficking and Insecurity in Ecuador: Guillermo Lasso Authorizes Army to Act

Incompetence to exercise politics