A group of opposition parliamentarians in Ecuador formally requested that impeachment hearings be held against the president Guillermo Lasso on corruption charges, which Lasso vehemently denies.
Earlier this month, lawmakers backed a report accusing Lasso of links to possible crimes against state security and public administration, amid investigations by the attorney general’s office into alleged bribery at state-owned companies.
Lawmakers also voted to declassify files related to corruption investigations in search of evidence to support the impeachment attempt, but neither Lasso nor any of his family members appeared in the documents.
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The formal request, presented by a parliamentarian from the party of former president Rafael Correa, had 59 signatures of support.
“This indictment will demonstrate how President Guillermo Lasso Mendoza participated in a corrupt structure to obtain benefits for himself and others,” the request said.
In a statement, the government rejected the effort.
“This request completely lacks the political and legal elements that would support a lawsuit against the president,” the government said, adding that the effort was an attempt at “destabilization” by the assembly.
Proponents need constitutional court approval for an impeachment trial to take place.
Source: Moneytimes
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