WAIT. The President awaits the response from the Constitutional Court to his follow-up request. Photo: Presidency.
The Legal Secretary of the Presidency indicated that the opposition does not have the necessary votes for the dismissal. The OAS made a call to respect the constitutionality.
The president of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso, has everything prepared to attend the National Assembly on May 16, 2023 to face the accusation for the alleged crime of embezzlement, through the public company Flopec, in charge of transporting crude oil.
The Legal Secretary of the Presidency, Juan Pablo Ortiz, told LA HORA that “the President will attend and our line of defense is to disprove the entire accusation regarding the subject of the alleged embezzlement that arose between Flopec and Amazonas Tanker”, he pointed out.
Ortiz indicated that the president will maintain that this contract was made in 2018 and was renewed in 2020. “There is no embezzlement because in that contract, after adopting the recommendations given by the Comptroller’s Office, in this Government it began to generate profits ”, remarked.
He noted that within the legal system of Ecuador, embezzlement is a crime that can only be committed by the official in charge of the assets, a condition that is not met. “The President has never been in charge of Flopec’s assets,” he specified.
The votes
The Legal Secretary of the Presidency stated that despite the vote on May 14, when the authorities of Parliament were renewed. The votes obtained would not be related to the vote for the removal of the head of state.
“The election of the authorities of the Parliament is a completely independent issue and they are internal procedures that the National Assembly takes, ”says Ortiz.
“What we see is that they do not have the votesthe request for impeachment started with the signing of 104 votes, then 54 assembly members signed it to refer it to the Constitutional Court and on Tuesday, in a completely illegal session and contrary to the Constitution, 88 voted, ”he recalled.
According to Ortiz, after the President exposes and makes use of his right to Defense, “the Assembly members will see in a better way and they will reason their vote”.
challenge to court
The President and his defense are awaiting the pronouncement that the Constitutional Court (CC) must issue after Last Friday, through a letter, he requested follow-up on the actions of the assembly members and the president of the Assembly, Virgilio Saquicela.
For Lasso, the assembly members would be incurring a challenge to the opinion of the CC, since they would promote “ventilating a debate referring to aspects related to trust in the Government, external indebtedness and other issues that deviate from the object of the trial.”
At press time on May 15, the CC remained without responding to the presidential request.
Sources of the Court indicated that, before a specific request, the judges will pronounce themselves.
cross death
On the activation of the death cross or dissolution of the National Assembly by the President, the Legal Secretary of the Presidency reiterated that this is a constitutional alternative.
“Cross death is a power granted by the Constitution to the President, he may use it when he sees fitHe will decide when,” he said.
Article 148 of the 2008 Constitution establishes the possibility for the President to dissolve the National Assembly by decree in the event of a serious political crisis or social upheaval.
Sources close to Carondelet indicated that within the Government they would already be reviewing the ideal moment to announce the measure.
It was also known that in the morning a meeting of the High Command of the Armed Forces would be scheduled to plan the actions to be taken to protect the security of the nation. (ILS)
Support for Constitutionality
During the day prior to President Guillermo Lasso’s appearance before the Assembly, various national and international sectors called for respecting the institutional framework and acting in accordance with constitutional guidelines.
The General Secretary of the The Organization of American States (OAS) issued a statement urging the National Assembly to offer “all guarantees of justice and respect for the norms of due process”.
In the statement they reiterate that it is important to respect the mandates of the presidents elected by popular vote and that the deadlines and terms are exercised “with more full rights, without pressure or threats.”
He ended by calling for “responsibility and moderation” by the actors involved in this process.
For her part, the National Federation of Chambers of Industries of Ecuador issued a statement in which it rejected the atmosphere of confusion and instability that it is generated by “a few that submit to the majority of the population.”
The letter indicates that the National Assembly “must keep in mind that the country is vigilant of responsible actionwith unrestricted adherence to the law and institutions”.
In addition, They asked the Constitutional Court to “follow up on the guidelines established in the decision on the admissibility of the impeachment trial,” so that it is fully complied with “and its eventual non-compliance is sanctioned”.