Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso may resign
2023.02.25 01:30
Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso may resign
By Ray Johnson
Budrigannews.com – A significant indigenous group in Ecuador said on Friday that it would not continue discussions with President Guillermo Lasso’s government. The group claimed that Lasso’s administration has not adhered to agreements and demanded that Lasso resign due to allegations of corruption.
According to the government, it has come to dozens of agreements with the indigenous CONAIE organization, one of which is a temporary moratorium on oil blocks in the Amazon (NASDAQ:). and a halt to new mining concessions in ancestral territory until laws requiring community consultation can be enacted.
In exchange for negotiations on the deals, CONAIE agreed last year to end weeks of protests. However, Lasso stated on Friday that he has not kept his word.
After meeting with other Indigenous groups, CONAIE’s president Leonidas Iza told journalists, “CONAIE breaks this process of dialogue and retires from monitoring efforts.” It is evident that the government lacks the political will to comply.”
Iza stated that the organizations are urging lawmakers to initiate impeachment proceedings and calling for Lasso’s resignation, but they have not called for nationwide protests.
Iza stated, “Mr. Guillermo Lasso, present your resignation for the dignity of our country, for your inability to govern and resolve the most important problems of Ecuadoreans.”
The government could not immediately be reached for comment.
During the 2022 demonstrations, some lawmakers attempted to expel Lasso from the opposition-controlled national assembly, where he has been at odds with him on multiple occasions.
Although his government has renegotiated oil deals and some debt, efforts to implement security reforms failed to garner voter support in a recent referendum, despite his promises to improve the economy and combat rising crime.
As part of an investigation into alleged graft, prosecutors raided offices at the presidency and the state oil company Petroecuador earlier this month. The office of Lasso has stated that it will not tolerate corruption.
