Several analysts agree that at any time in Ecuador’s recent political history, since the return to democracy in 1979, when this Andean nation left behind seven years of military governments and returned to constitutional regimes, there has never been an impeachment trial of a president.
Although in 1997 the National Congress used the figure of mental incapacity to remove the then president Abdala Bucaram (1996-1997) when he was about to reach six months in power, until that moment it had been the only case in which the Legislature decided the removal of a president.
However, if Lasso is impeached, it would be the first time this happens in Ecuador.
The Ecuadorian Head of State is accused of crimes against public administration.
On Wednesday, March 29, the Constitutional Court decided by qualified majority to approve the impeachment request and the process returned to the National Assembly (Parliament) to discuss the issue in the Inspection Commission.
This Friday, the request for impeachment against Lasso finally passed to that parliamentary table that now has a month to prepare a report in which it must recommend or not that the political process against Lasso reaches the Plenary of the Assembly.
mh/abo/lam/nta