That was the name of the Spanish fleet with which King Philip II, a Catholic, tried to attack the England of Elizabeth I, a Protestant. Bad winds and English resistance destroyed the Invincible Armada.

I remember this on the occasion of the impeachment proceedings against the President of the Republic Guillermo Lasso, which was initiated, elaborated and approved (its admissibility) by the Constitutional Court (CC). The admissibility was declared by the Constitutional Court in connection with the allegation of possible embezzlement at Flopec, the public company in charge of transporting Petroecuador’s oil.

Admiral Estupiñán, as manager of Flopec, decided to unilaterally terminate Ecuador’s oil transport contract with Amazon Tankers Company, because it was harmful to the country. Immediately, the board of directors, chaired by Mr. Luque, now on the run, removed Estupiñán from his position; he would try, without success, to explain the case to President Lasso; In addition, he filed an appeal for protection, and the judicial body ordered that he be reinstated as administrator, which did not happen.

It seems to me that this is a case that, if it had been resolved in a timely manner, would not have reached the prosecutor’s office for the alleged embezzlement of the president, which brought so much damage, and will bring even more damage to Ecuador. Because of this, therefore, the manager of Flopec was dismissed, and today the President of the Republic is on trial. The company continues with its business without batting an eye. That’s why I call it the Invincible Armada. A scandal broke out around EMCO, the parent company of state-owned companies, which led to leaks of information, resignations of associates close to the Presidency, and gave rise to a journalistic report called the Great Godfather; one of the characters involved these days was killed, the mafia located him in Ecuadorian territory, which the Ministry of Interior and the Minister of Security could not do; if they tried.

In order to contribute to spoiling the international image, the president appointed the minister of the environment as chancellor, it seems to me that he is an agronomist by profession, with complete ignorance and experience in international law.

The chancellor’s function is, in essence, to advise the president on international issues, to negotiate international agreements, to represent the country at international forums such as the OAS, the UN, to which other countries send people who are familiar with the matter, with experience. A certain person will find himself in front of his officials, as well as in front of his colleagues, in an unpleasant situation of not understanding the matters in question. The president should acknowledge the international mistakes committed during his mandate: the Colombian bombing of Ecuadorian territory was justified in Bogotá, in Angostura; The opening of an Ecuadorian office in Jerusalem was accepted, against the express prohibition of the UN Security Council, thus ignoring our two-state position for the territories of Palestine and Israel, which is supported even by the United States of America. The list is long. (OR)