By Alexandra Valencia
QUITO (Reuters) – The defense representing Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso has asked lawmakers to declare impeachment hearings against him inadmissible, arguing that the embezzlement of which he is accused did not take place, the president’s lawyer said on Monday.
Opposition lawmakers in Ecuador’s National Assembly have pushed for impeachment hearings since last month. The country’s top court gave the green light for hearings to proceed, which could end in Lasso being censured or dismissed.
Edgar Neira, Lasso’s lawyer, asked the Assembly Oversight Committee handling the trial to reject the charges against the president and to declare the impeachment process inadmissible.
Lasso has presented arguments that demonstrate the alleged embezzlement connected to a shipping contract for crude oil between public company Flopec and private sector business Amazonas Tanker Pool Company LLC never took place, Neira said on Twitter, accompanied by a 38-page document detailing the defense.
The document was presented to the oversight committee on Sunday night.
Opposition lawmakers say they have strong evidence against Lasso and can prove he was responsible for alleged irregularities in the contract, which was signed before he took office in May 2021, but is still in effect.
“There’s no economic damage to EP FLOPEC that could constitute the constitutional infringement of embezzlement,” Neira said in the document, adding the contract was modified in October last year on recommendations from the comptroller’s office so as to avoid harm to the state.
The oversight committee will begin hearings for the impeachment trial this week. On Tuesday, the committee is expected to approve a schedule for testimonies.
Lasso, who could to be called to give evidence on April 26, can appoint a lawyer for his defense.
Opposition lawmakers will need 92 votes from the 137-member assembly to find Lasso guilty if the process reaches the final stage.
Lasso has frequently clashed with the National Assembly, where he does not have a majority.
The impeachment hearings have increased the likelihood of Lasso dissolving the assembly and calling an early election.
(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
