Ecuadorian Court approves second round of impeachment proceedings for centrist President Guillermo Lasso

Ecuador’s Constitutional Court authorized the South American country’s National Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Guillermo Lasso over allegations of corruption, a charge that arose from his opponents after he extended a state of emergency over protests.

The 6-3 ruling was the first of other steps the Ecuadorean congress must take before the legislature’s elected members can vote on impeachment.

The vote signifies a second round of impeachment proceedings that follow a prior attempt over allegations arising from the Pandora Papers, in which Lasso’s opponents only secured 51 votes in favor with 77 voting against in December 2021.

In this most recent attempt to oust the president, Lasso’s accusers are alleging that his brother-in-law, Danilo Carrera, is connected to public officials involved in drug trafficking and corruption.

Lasso has denied the charges, saying there was no evidence to support the allegations.

Part of the impeachment will require Lasso’s accusers to present compelling evidence before they can vote on whether to oust the Ecuadorean head of state.

Lasso, who worked as an executive for Coca Cola and in the banking industry started a four-year term in May 2021 after he was elected.

The National Assembly now has a 45 day deadline to finish the impeachment process, and Lasso’s accusers must secure at least 92 votes in the 137 seated legislature. The majority of that chamber is dominated by opposition parties led by the Union for Hope party, which is linked to former President Rafael Correa, who ran the country from 2007-2017.

Still, the two thirds majority required will be challenging for Lasso’s opponents.

The Ecuadorian president could exercise a constitutional clause that empowers him to temporarily dissolve the congress and govern by decree for six-months while running for re-election, but some experts have said such a move could backfire politically.

Both former conservative presidents Mauricio Macri of Argentina and Felipe Calderón of Mexico said they believe Lasso’s presidency would benefit both Ecuador and Latin America.

President Biden also congratulated Lasso and the country when he was elected, saying that voters were “demonstrating the power of peaceful and inclusive political participation and upholding the ideals of democracy.”