President Laso will undergo a political trial | international

With six votes in favor, the plenary session of the Constitutional Court of Ecuador approved the motion to impeach the President, Guillermo Lasso, for the alleged crime of embezzlement. With the approval of the body, the National Assembly begins the process of impeaching the president, which could lead to his impeachment. In a statement, the court explained that in the process that has been pursued so far in the National Assembly, “the principles of political legality and due legal procedure have been respected.”

In sentencing, the majority of judges decided not to accept the two charges related to the alleged crime of extortion, giving way only to the embezzlement charge. The court explained that it conducted an opinion analysis for both the procedure and the content of the application to “ensure the balance of powers between the executive and legislative functions,” although it draws the attention of the applicants and the National Assembly in order to “not be extravagant in activating the aforementioned constitutional number.”

The majority of UNES lawmakers, Social Cristiano and Izquierda Democrática, accuse him of political responsibility for a corruption scheme in public companies. In addition, to use his position as president to protect some of those involved, including his son-in-law, Danilo Carrera. President Laso denied these assertions and described the Assembly’s intention to dismiss him for the second time as a “parliamentary coup”, as he said at the Ibero-American Summit held in Santo Domingo.

The bloc of legislators from the ruling party announced that President Lasso will defend himself in court, indicating that the president will not activate the so-called cross death; any assembly solution. The Ecuadorian Constitution gives the president this possibility at any time during the first three years of office, and he can do so on three grounds. The first is that the Council has assumed powers that are not compatible with it. The second is due to a serious crisis or internal turmoil. The third is blocking the development plan proposed by the President of the Republic. Only in the first case is it necessary to consult the Constitutional Court. If the President invokes the Death Cross, he will not be able to finish his term until 2025, elections must be held immediately and he will rule by executive decrees for six months until new powers are appointed.

By decision of the Supreme Court, the document will return to the National Assembly, up to the Inspection Commission, which must hear evidence supporting the alleged infringement within a maximum period of 45 days and where the President can present evidence of innocence. To censure and remove the president, 92 votes are required of the 137 members of the House.

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