at 7:00 p.m. the session of the Legislative Plenary continues, which will have to decide on the investigation of President Guillermo Lasso and his connection with the Pandora Papers.
More than 15 assembly members have intervened in the hemicycle of the National Assembly to present their position on the report of the Constitutional Guarantees Commission, which establishes that there is a responsibility of the President for breaching the Ethical Pact by having assets in tax havens when he registered his candidacy .
Fernando Cabascango, president of the Commission, began his intervention by rejecting the accusations against the Legislative Board. In addition, he clarified that it was the Plenary of the Assembly, with 105, who decided that it is this Commission that investigates the links of the offshore network, revealed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, in the face of the serious events that cause the internal commotion.
“The report that has been read includes only the truth, fulfilling the task assigned by the Plenary of the Assembly,” he added.
Sofía Sánchez, also from PK and a member of the Commission, harshly criticized the process of preparing the report. She said that, from the beginning, there were errors in the schedule, in the tests and that the report was not debated either.
Bruno Segovia recalled that the existence of these assets or capital in tax havens has never been denied. He mentioned that he does not agree with the grounds for dismissal, but that the President does explain the accusations against him to the Plenary of the Assembly.
Javier Santos, from the Democratic Left, also believes that the President should appear, and also send all the documents to the Prosecutor’s Office.
Paola Cabezas, from UNES, asked Sofia Sánchez not to lie about the work of the Commission. She questioned that the President decided not to come to give the corresponding explanations. She also asked to clarify what is the true patrimony of the President, in the face of contradictory statements, while he was campaigning and when he took office.
She moved that the appearance of Guillermo Lasso be required.
For their part, Gruber Zambrano and Virgilio Saquicela asked that the majority report be archived because the necessary evidence does not exist.
At the end of the debate, Fernando Cabascango requested five minutes to define the resolution that will be put to the vote.
After the recess, the president of the Assembly gave way to voting on the motions presented.
Paola Cabezas moved to apply art. 130, numeral 2, of the Constitution and proceed to the removal of the President due to a serious political crisis and internal commotion due to the disclosure of the Pandora Paper information
In addition, she request the appearance of the President and the lifting of bank secrecy. With 51 affirmative votes and 7 abstentions and 77 negative, the motion did not pass.
Subsequently, with 61 affirmative votes, 27 abstentions and 47 negative, the Assembly did not approve the motion to request the appearance of President Guillermo Lasso before the Plenary, within a period of no more than 30 days.
Alejandro Jaramillo, of the Democratic Left, pointed out that there is no internal commotion, but there were doubts about the President’s connection.
With 82 affirmative votes, 33 negative and 20 abstentions, the Assembly approved to urge President Guillermo Lasso to appear before the Legislative Plenary and that the documentation be sent to the Comptroller, Prosecutor’s Office and other entities to investigate the banking information.
There was an attempt to appeal the presidency of Guadalupe Llori, proposed by César Rohon, but did not obtain the votes. Likewise, the motion to reconsider the vote proposed by Assemblyman Diego Ordóñez did not pass, thus ending the Jaramillo vote.
Be the first to comment