The legislator, from the Unión por la Esperanza (UNES) bench, presented the evidence to parliamentarians that the chief executive “always knew about corruption in public companies and did nothing to prevent it.”

President, today he will not be able to flee or hide behind the pants of his lawyers, said Veloz on this first day of the impeachment process, which could bring forward the end of Lasso’s term.

The parliamentarian presented arguments to prove that the president knew of the irregularities in a contract between the state-owned Flota Petrolera Ecuatoriana (Flopec) and the Amazonas Tanker company, an agreement extended during his term.

President Lasso did not surround himself with honest people as he announced in interviews, and that made the corruption structure viable, indicated the questioner.

She pointed out that the president put his friend Hernán Luque in charge of the Public Companies Coordinator and gave her superpowers to control 14 billion dollars of state companies.

You will be accountable to Ecuador because you are responsible for public administration, she emphasized.

Veloz also referred to the social situation in the country, particularly the growing insecurity. In this regard, she asserted that history will remember Lasso for a legacy of blood, death and pain.

At the end of her presentation, she stressed that not only will political responsibility be enough to remove the highest authority in the country, but also his criminal prosecution.

Assemblyman from the Social Christian Party (PSC) Esteban Torres, another of the interpellants, focused his presentation on the legality of the procedure, validated by the Constitutional Court, without arbitrariness or limitations on the defense.

In the midst of a strong security deployment, Lasso’s presence in the Assembly is expected for Tuesday afternoon to present his defense argument.

Ministers and cabinet members are present in plenary to support Lasso during his speech.

Demonstrators on the outskirts of the legislative compound support the ruler, although there are reports of pressure from the Government to force public officials to attend the rally.

Representatives of social organizations called to also take to the streets in the afternoon to demand the dismissal of the president, rejected by more than 80 percent of the population, according to surveys.

ef/ro/avr