The head of state had to appear this October 20 at 3:00 p.m., but he sent a letter with his response and invited Carondelet to the commission.
The President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso, will be summoned for the second time and under the law to appear before the Commission on Constitutional Guarantees and Human Rights, in charge of investigating the so-called Pandora Papers, a leak of files on assets and capital in paradises prosecutors where the chief agent is appointed.
For this October 20, at 3:00 p.m., the Head of State was invited to the Hall of Former Presidents of the Assembly to present information and documentation related to the investigation of the Pandora Papers and its alleged connection to the case.
But, in the morning, Guillermo Lasso delivered through the legal secretary of the Presidency, Fabián Pozo, an official letter answering the questions posed by the assembly members, where he discards any connection with tax havens and invites the members of the Commission to Carondelet , but once all the appearances foreseen in the work schedule have been evacuated, since he indicated that he has the full right to know in advance the assertions that have been given in said forum.
Guillermo Lasso responds to the Assembly on Pandora’s papers and invites Carondelet to the Commission
In the session of the Guarantees Commission, the response issued by the president was read, followed by the president of the table, José Cabascango, stated that the president of the Republic has decided not to appear and that in official letter delivered this 20 From October, it is allowed to corroborate their availability to receive the members of the Commission in the presidential palace.
Cabascango ordered the reading of subsection 4 of article 76 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Function, where it is determined that “if the public official does not appear on the date and time set in the call or does not send the information, it will be grounds for political prosecution ”.
The Pachakutik legislator also ordered the reading of the first paragraph of article 77 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Function, referring to the investigation on the performance of public servants, which refers to the attribution of the plenary session of the National Assembly to require one of the specialized commissions the investigation into the performance of any public official of the different functions of the State or about acts of citizen interest that have generated social upheaval or political crisis.
After reading, Cabascango clarified: “This is the Commission for Constitutional Guarantees and Human Rights, and we are not the Audit Commission, which takes appearances at home.” That provoked applause from the legislators of UNES and Pachakutik, present in the room.
He said that the Commission and the country were waiting for the meeting with the President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso, so that he would personally provide answers about the investigation in which he is involved and tell the country the truth.
He added that the committee he presides over is concerned that in the morning session the people linked to this investigation, including the wife of the president, María de Lourdes Alcívar, and his son Santiago Xavier Lasso, did not attend the invitation. and that the President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso, did not appear in the afternoon session as a public official directly involved in this investigation.
Cabascango stated that this lack of collaboration hinders the process that the Commission is carrying out and disrespects the competences and attributions that the National Assembly has as the first function of the State.
He showed the empty chair assigned to the president and affirmed that the non-appearance of Guillermo Lasso does not turn his back on the National Assembly, but on the country. Therefore, the Commission convenes for the second time and in a compulsory manner, under the prevention of law, to appear on Friday, October 22, 2021, at 08:00, before the National Assembly.
Cabascango immediately ordered the session to be suspended amid shouts and requests for the floor from legislator Virgilio Saquicela, first vice president of the Assembly. “He cannot do what he wants, no matter how president of the Commission,” he claimed. (I)
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