Filing an impeachment motion against Laso for alleged corruption offences

The request for impeachment of the Ecuadorian President, Guillermo Lasso, submitted by the National Assembly, has passed the verification of the Legislative Management Council (CAL) of this institution and sent it to the Constitutional Court, which will assess its legality.

Five of the assembly’s legislators voted in favor and two abstained, so the motion was passed by a majority. CAL accepted the motion to impeach Laso, who was charged with racketeering and embezzlement in a case of alleged corruption of public companies.

Now, the Constitutional Court must decide whether the application from the National Assembly is in accordance with the law and adheres to the Ecuadorian Magna Carta.

According to opposition legislator Darwin Pereira, the court will give a period of six days to resolve the request and grant it “acceptance” of the process sent by the CAL. If the response is favorable, the association will proceed with the impeachment process.

Pereira stressed that this is only one step that must be followed, because if the court approves the process, the candidate of the oversight committee of the association is still missing so that the discussion can take place in plenary session.

For her part, the pro-government deputy, Natalia Arias, stated that there are doubts about the processing of the submitted request. In addition, he said he hoped the Constitutional Court would provide a due process statement.

Arias insists that with the association’s control “proper due process must be ensured from start to finish”. Otherwise, he stressed, the process could be “invalidated” at any time.

Lasso’s Alleged Links to the ‘Great Godfather’ Affair

Several opposition groups, which are a majority in the Council, requested that Laso be brought to trial based on a report from a legislative commission that was investigating the well-known “Incuentro” or “Gran Padrino” case.

The digital media “La Posta” highlighted the controversial audio that featured businessman Danilo Carrera, Laso’s son-in-law. In these cases, a corruption conspiracy can be seen in the recruitment and appointment of government companies.

The same recordings included another person close to the ruling party, businessman Ruben Shires, who in 2021 was linked to an investigation into alleged drug trafficking links.

The investigation committee recommended that the entire council seek clarifications from Laso about the alleged corruption network.

The impeachment request is covered by Nos. 1 and 2 of Article 129 of the Constitution, which considers blaming the President of the Republic for crimes “against state security” or “concussion, bribery, embezzlement, or unlawful enrichment.”

Representative Viviana Feloz, who submitted the request before the assembly, had confirmed: “We have submitted this impeachment trial because the factual facts, the circumstantial relationship and the behavior of the president are consistent with the crimes of extortion and embezzlement in public companies. Petroecuador, the Ecuadorian oil fleet (Flopec) and the coordinating company of public companies (Emco )”.

Laso’s administration criticized the report when it was published by the opposition majority committee, saying it was a “volume” with no “head or tail”.

Lasu’s government is facing this trial at a complex time. He had recently lost the local elections, which were left in Kurismo’s hands, and was defeated in a referendum promoted by the president himself.

In June 2022, Laso evaded a motion of impeachment in the Assembly, because the number of votes was not enough. This event occurred in the midst of indigenous protests that paralyzed the country for 18 days.

with EFE