The agency created in 2007 spends $4.2 million on salaries for 276 officials. The President assures that the payment of salaries is in danger.
internal struggles, budget problems, remarks for breach of duties are part of the problems faced by the Council for Citizen Participation and Social Control (Cpccs). This week, the organization’s president, Sofía Almeida, announced that the entity was “paralyzed”.
Darwin Seraqui’ve, former secretary general of the transitory Citizen Participation Council (Cpccs-t), spoke with LA HORA and made a direct accusation. “The Cpccs was a instrument created by correismo To try to grasp all the powers of the State under the principle of the misnamed citizen participation”.
He knows the organism inside. He held the position from March 2018 to June 2019. The members of that time, led by Julio Cesar Trujillo (+), they had one main task: evaluate the authorities who were in office and had been appointed by a previous council, close to executive
What the reports say
LA HORA accessed the reports made by the Cpccs-t and that served for a subsequent dismissal of the holders of the Ombudsman’s Office, Judiciary Council, National Electoral Council (CNE), among others. The conclusions show that the prior selection process had been carried out with “lack of independence”, “conflict of interest”, “ties with the Executive”. All this, while the former president was in power Rafael Correa. In total, the Cpccs-t dismissed 29 officials from nine institutions.
Accusations of political interference
Today, the current Council, with different actors, falls once again into accusations of political interference. Almeida denounced the existence of “a boycott plan” in which “certain power groups want to capture the Council”. She said that she would not be surprised if in order to designate authorities “by finger”, especially the Comptroller, they remove her from the Presidency.
the counselor Hernan Ulloa ruled out any type of plan and replied that it is the President herself who has not called to discuss issues such as the appointment of authorities. He added that the Cpccs has suffered discredit from people who seek its elimination and that the resources have not existed to meet the contests. “All this was aggravated by the pandemic, we were forced to telecommute and resolve things that were not on the agenda.”
Under a possible popular consultation
From the Executive they also see with concern what happens in the Cpccs. The President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso, announced last Tuesday that he is thinking of asking the population, in a possible referendum, about the powers of the entity.
The Government seeks to include a question to limit the powers. He ruled out asking people about deleting the entity because it would require amendment to the Constitution.
Nowadays, the Council has 14 powers, among the most important, promoting participation, appointing authorities for State functions and fighting corruption.
Voices of breach of duties
The cpccs is delayed in the renewal process of the National Electoral Council (CNE) and the selection of the new Superintendent of Companies. Esteban Ron, a law professor and jurist, considers that the members have fallen into breach of duty.
The art. 68 of the Law of the Participation Council attributes the competence to choose the new Superintendent, whose list was sent by the Executive on January 6 last. Just on Tuesday, the councilors approved the regulation and the technical support commission.
In the case of the renewal of the CNE, the term to position the new members ended on March 19, 2021. “The constitution tells you the term. It is clear, they cannot go backwards or forwards. It’s an exact time.” the scholar maintains. Therefore, it ensures that the Legislative could already start an inspection process for breach of duties.
an outstanding debt
Father Fernando Vega, constituent assemblyman, in 2007 supported the creation of the Cpccs. Fourteen years later, he says that everything was distorted and became a “mechanism” so that Correismo has the direction of the control authorities.
He indicates that it was also thought to improve citizen participation in processes of control and fight against corruption, but that was not fulfilled. “It was a giant disappointment. It was envisioned to be an enhanced version of the Civic Commission Against Corruption. That failed. Today there are other civil organizations that do this work, such as the National Anti-Corruption Commission of which I am a part.”
Without agreements or for the budget
Almeida accused four councilors of not approving the budget for 2022 and the Annual Hiring Plan. With that, he added, salary payments are jeopardized. The agency spends $4.2 million in salaries for 276 officials. The head commented that even the selection processes would be at risk.
Ulloa pointed out that the president herself has not called to deal with these issues and that this is of exclusive competence. “We ask you to include the issue of the budget and the annual contracting plan for an extraordinary session this Wednesday. It did not”. (PD)
