Cecilia Velasque, the deputy coordinator of Pachakutik (PK), takes a toll on the audio recording which she justifies by saying that she spoke figuratively “and even in a mocking tone”. The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie) is demanding his expulsion from the political organization. You obviously don’t trust him.

Among the presenter’s controversial phrases is: “Another thing I also always say: I will not be offered ‘passing coffees’; They give me full service or nothing. Good or bad, but it goes with something good, not with bone. He claims it was part of an internal evaluation regarding the attack on Pachakutik on social media regarding his stance on the impeachment of President Guillermo Lasso, and insists that everything he said was “figurative and even humorous.”

In a statement released on April 17, 2023, Conaie’s Governing Council demands that Pachakutik be removed from its ranks and requests that all members of the bench be investigated “for possible negotiations and agreements for public duties with the national government.”

After the statement about the alleged “mockery”, Velasque notes in the newsletter that it is a dirty campaign shortly after the appointment of the new Pachakutik coordinator, to the position he is applying for.

In any case, what this event contains is reprehensible. Negotiating public office is sanctioned by Ecuadorian law and although she is not a representative, and as such cannot participate directly in the decision-making of the legislative body, as the head of the ruling bloc Juan Fernando Flores says, this issue should be investigated so that the impeachment would not continue to be subject to manipulation, except the decision of the executive to confront him. And on the other hand, if it is about decontextualization through a dirty campaign in a political movement, it must also be made transparent. Mockery and dishonesty cannot make their way further in politics, therefore they do not contribute to democracy. (OR)