Lasso's Situation Gets More Complicated

ECUADOR - In Brief 27 Mar 2023 by Magdalena Barreiro

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As expected, the Assembly submitted to the Constitutional Court the petition to initiate an impeachment of President Lasso.  This petition is based on the report presented by an ad-hoc legislative commission dominated by the opposition, in which Lasso was accused virtually of everything the Constitution contemplates as possible causes for an impeachment.  Even treason against the country was included, but after ample criticism this cause was excluded.  However, before the petition reached the judges, the Assembly had to retire it three times due to inconsistencies, wrong constitutional articles cited, and other mistakes that only confirmed the lack of seriousness with which UNES, Social Christians, and dissidents from Pachakutik and Izquierda Democratica have proceeded. What was not expected is that only two constitutional judges would vote in favor of the dismissal of such petition proposed by the magistrate in charge of the analysis.  Six votes were necessary, thus new rapporteur judges were appointed to present another legal analysis, which most probably, will be voted upon again tomorrow.  If the Constitutional Court approves the impeachment process, it will return to the Assembly, and two thirds of legislators will have to approve it.   In this context, Lasso's situation gets much more complicated, and the alternative of "cross death" gets closer.