Ecuadorian President Lasso faces impeachment trial
Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso is facing an impeachment trial at the General Assembly of the National Assembly for alleged embezzlement during contracts between the state-owned oil shipping company Flopec and private tanker companies. The case is being led by Virgilio Saquicela, President of the Ecuadorian National Assembly, who has noted that Lasso knew about the incident but did nothing. Lasso, who denies the accusations, has claimed that the incident happened before he took office and that the parliament is trying to destabilize his government with this case.
If 92 deputies in the Ecuadorian National Assembly, which consists of 137 seats, agree on the impeachment, Lasso could be removed from office. In accordance with Article 148 of the Ecuadorian Constitution, he has the authority to enact the practice of “Muerta Cruzada”, which means mutual death and causes the general elections to be repeated within 6 months by dissolving the parliament. However, it is claimed that the leaders of the indigenous people in the country will start an uprising if Lasso takes this decision.
This is not the first time that Lasso has faced an appeal for impeachment. In June 2022, he was accused of not taking measures against the internal turmoil that started with the local people’s strike due to the increase in fuel prices in the country. However, Lasso was not dismissed as he could not get enough votes in the parliament for the appeal.
The outcome of the current impeachment trial remains uncertain, and the situation in Ecuador is tense. Authorities must take decisive action to address the allegations and prevent any further destabilization of the country.
