Congress has postponed the definition of a possible early departure of Lasso. Photo Bolivar PARRA / Presidency Ecuador / AFP
The Ecuadorian Congress deliberated postpone the debate on impeachment to this Sunday afternoon of the president, former right-wing banker Guillermo Lasso. The decision was made after the academic year broad virtual deliberationplayed this Saturday for nearly eight hours.
There they discussed the president’s responsibility in the “internal commotion”, which left thirteen days of bloody indigenous protests against the high cost of living.
“I am proceeding to suspend this session and ask for its continuation on Sunday at 16:00 (local time, 18:00 in Argentina)”, said Virgilio Saquicela, president of the Parliament, arguing that there were still “almost 40 requests for intervention” and ” everyone has the right to express their point of view “.
The protests have shaken Ecuador in the last few hours, but especially Quito. About 10,000 indigenous people from their territories marched screaming in different parts of the capital “Leave it out, out!”.
About 30 deputies expressed themselves in favor of and against the Lasso right in a virtual debate that began around 6 pm on Saturday in Ecuador, at the request of the opposition, which collected the 47 signatures necessary to request the departure of the president, who assumed the its location in May 2021.
The Union for Hope caucus, related to former socialist president Rafael Correa (2007-2017), accused Lasso of the “serious political crisis and internal turmoil” that has been shaking the country since 13 June, with almost daily demonstrations and blockades.
“Let’s go to the early elections, Lasso goes home“Affirmed the deputy Pierina Correa, sister of the former president.
The head of state did not participate in the debate, but instructed his legal secretary, Fabián Pozo, to read his defense. “The members of the assembly (…) seek to destabilize democracyWell stated.
Isolated from the covid, Lasso also attacked the leader of the demonstrations, Leonidas Iza, president of the powerful Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie).
“The Mr. Iza’s real intention is to overthrow the government. He has no control over the demonstrations or the crime his irresponsible actions have generated, “Lasso said.
On Saturday, the indigenous movement and the government held a first rapprochement and a few hours later Lasso ended the state of exception in force in six of the country’s 24 provinces with a robust military deployment and a night curfew.
The massive mobilizations in Quito were followed by clashes with the security forces, fueled by police repression. Rivers of indignant protest in Ecuador for the rejection of the high cost of living that plunges their territories into poverty. Its spearhead is the reduction in the price of fuel, which has made transport costs more expensive in agricultural regions.
As demonstrators passed, bonfires with burnt tires and destruction were left in a semi-paralyzed and exhausted city.
Protesters, during the protests against President Guillermo Lasso. AP Photo / Dolores Ochoa.
Removal of the president requires 92 of the 137 possible Congressional endorsements. After the debates, the deputies will have a maximum of 72 hours to vote.
If the dismissal was approved, the power would be assumed by the vice president Alfredo Borrero and presidential and legislative elections would be called for the remainder of the period (until 2025).
“President Lasso, don’t be a coward. I call for early elections,” Correa challenged on Twitter.
Five died in the protests
The mobilization is gone five protesters killed, more than a hundred arrested and nearly 500 injured, between civilians, police and military, according to various sources. The Alliance of Human Rights Organizations had initially provided a report of six deaths, which it corrected on Saturday.
Thursday and Friday nights in Quito were the most violent days of the social epidemic. The public force and demonstrators clashed with Molotov cocktails, pyrotechnic rockets, tear gas and stun grenades.
The rest of the protests were mostly peaceful. Hundreds of women marched against the government on Saturday morning. Some natives have gone with red painted eyes.
Ecuador, whose dollarized economy was starting to recover from the effects of the pandemic, is losing about $ 50 million a day due to the crisis, according to official data.
Without much political support, Lasso now has the support of the military, who have tightened ranks around his government.
With information from AFP.
IT
Source: Clarin
