Since the beginning of the current legislature, four processes have ended in censorship of officials. Currently, three applications are pending processing.
In a little over eight months from May 24, 2021, the National Assembly has carried out four political trials that ended in censorship and dismissal; three archived processes, one at a step of the archive and three requests for interpellation pending. This represents that each month, on average, a political trial is requested or processed.
The four processes that reached the plenary session of the legislature, and the censorship of the official, they went against the surrogate comptroller, Pablo Celi; former Minister of Energy René Ortiz; the Ombudsman, Freddy Carrión; and, of Superintendent of Companies, Víctor Anchundia.
In Ortiz’s case, In the first instance, the process was archived, but it was resumed immediately and ended with the censorship.
A different fate had the five requests for judgment against the former Minister of Economy, Richard Martínez. These requests had been dragging on since the previous legislature, but their processing was not approved and the legal term of one year ended.
Norma Bucheli, a political scientist, commented that the assemblymen they have found in this type of inspection procedures a way to wash their face of their poor performance.
“The lack of diligence in dealing with laws that have been presented by the previous and current government on issues such as higher education and security, among others, has been public and notorious. In addition, when they have processed a regulation, such as the tax reform, there has been a bad taste in the mouth due to the handling and the final result, »he said.
Political Trial of the Superintendent of Banks is one step away from the file
After more than a month of appearances, the Control Commission of the Assembly approved, on February 7, 2022, the report in the framework of the political trial of the Superintendent of Banks, Ruth Arregui.
With five votes in favor and four against, the document was approved with the recommendation of filing the process initiated by the legislator Darwin Pereira of the Pachakutik movement.
Arregui faced eight accusations related to lack of control in unauthorized operations such as Big Money; Likewise, an attempt was made to pin responsibilities on him for the lack of sanctions in cases of improper collections in the financial system and the cybersecurity problems registered in Banco Pichincha.
According to the report approved by the majority, the direct responsibilities of the superintendent were not proven. The full of Assembly must vote to uphold the recommendation to archive the impeachment or not.
Four processes in line for processing
Since last year, the Control Commission is pending the start of the process of impeachment against the State attorney, Íñigo Salvador; and, against four members of the National Electoral Council and a former counselor.
However, on February 11, 2022, the process to investigate the actions of the substitute State Comptroller, Carlos Riofrío, was added to the waiting list. The request presented by the assemblyman of Unión por la Esperanza (Unes), Ronny Aleaga, is based on an alleged breach of duties.
Although the formal request has not yet been made, in the coming days the political trial against the new majority of the Council for Citizen Participation and Social Control (Cpccs).
In a press conference of representatives of the Christian Social Party (PSC), the Union for Hope (Unes) and (Pachakutik) it was assured that it has 80 signatures of support from almost all the benches, except for the ruling party, for this request.
Specifically, the process is against the directors Hernán Ulloa, María Fernanda Rivadeneira, Ibeth Estupiñán and Francisco Bravo, for having modified the regulations to elect the new Comptroller General of the State that had been approved in August 2021.
But nevertheless, the background is the recent power struggle and change of president and vice president in the (Cpccs). (JS)
