Ecuador's Lasso to defend himself before national assembly

Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso will defend himself before the national assembly as part of his impeachment trial.

“[Lasso] will go to the assembly to demonstrate that he has not committed any wrongdoing; there is no embezzlement and what has been done is to comply with the constitution and the law,” government spokesman Henry Cucalón told a TV broadcaster.

On Tuesday, 88 of 116 legislators present voted to continue the impeachment trial. Cucalón said the decision violated due process and ignored legislation under which a president is to be judged in line with the report of the oversight committee. In its report, the committee recommended halting the process due to lack of evidence.

Cucalón said embezzlement by omission, of which Lasso is accused, does not exist in Ecuadoran law.

To remove Lasso, 92 of 137 votes are needed, but Cucalón said they will not be obtained.