President Guillermo Lasso becomes the fourth president of Ecuador to be politically impeached. It is now official, the Legislative Administrative Council (CAL) has begun proceedings to prosecute the Head of State.

After Neptal Bonifaz, 1932; Juan de Dios Martínez Mera, 1933, and Carlos Julio Arosemena Monroy, 1962, Ecuador will see Guillermo Lasso face the only reason the Constitutional Court (CC) previously accepted the request: alleged embezzlement.

No problem, the countdown to the political trial of President Guillermo Lasso, accused of alleged embezzlement, begins next week

The process will not be short. 45 days may elapse between reports, notices, discharges, hearings and decisions, as provided for in the Organic Law on the Legislative Function. During this time, as already noted, in the first steps of political persecution, the statements of the actors will increase.

It is completely justified that those who – through this constitutional mechanism – seek the removal of the president present arguments and evidence, and Guillermo Lasso has no less right to firmly defend himself, present his defenses and have them reviewed without ideological accusations, but with the weight of truth and justice.

The National Assembly begins the impeachment process of President Guillermo Lasso

Whether a prosecution is appropriate or not is a constitutional debate that history will judge, but the reality today is that the country is a spectator to a political trial that it hopes will be conducted transparently, weighing compelling evidence rather than the interests of those who wield power.

Political instability is not an effective recipe for progress, it slows down growth in general and everyone suffers its consequences.

Striving for serious action by politicians is an option, although it may seem naive. The National Assembly does not have the best reputation and credibility among Ecuadorians, and the president is not quite up to it either. They can emerge strengthened by this trial and expect the unrelenting condemnation of the citizens when they return to the polls if their memory does not become fragile. (OR)