Ecuador’s National Assembly began a no-confidence hearing for President Guillermo Lasso Saturday, nearly two weeks into sometimes violent nationwide protests led by Indigenous groups against rising fuel prices and living costs.
QUITO, Ecuador — Opposition lawmakers called the parliamentary session over what they say is Lasso’s role in “the serious political crisis and internal commotion” that has left six civilians dead and dozens injured on both sides in 13 days of revolt.
Lasso’s dismissal would require 92 votes out of 137 in the assembly, in which opposition parties are in the majority. The body’s Twitter account said 135 out of that 137 lawmakers are taking part.If they vote to unseat Lasso, Vice President Alfredo Borrero will assume interim power and call new presidential and legislative elections.
Protesters in Quito threw rocks and Molotov cocktails and shot off fireworks near the congress building. The security forces repelled them with tear gas. The action has been costly, with losses of some $50 million per day to the economy as protesters have blocked key roads with burning tires and tree branches.“Basic necessities are very expensive and our products from the field… are worth nothing,” potato farmer Miguel Taday, 39, told AFP of his reason for joining the demonstrations.
The government has rejected the protesters’ demand for a fuel price cut, saying it would cost an unaffordable $1 billion per year.
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