2024-07-10 17:06:42
DECISION
With 88 votes in favor, the legislators resolved that the process continue, despite the suggestion of the Oversight Commission, supported by Correa’s supporters, to archive the case.
In a telematic session held on July 8, the National Assembly of Ecuador decided not to accept the recommendation to file the impeachment against Wilman Terán, former president of the Judiciary, and Maribel Barreno, a member of the same institution. With 88 votes in favor, the legislators resolved that the process continue, despite the suggestion of the Oversight Commission, supported by Correa’s supporters, to file the case.
President Daniel Noboa denounced an alleged attempt by the National Assembly to save Terán from impeachment, but this did not prevent the process from moving forward. The Correa faction argued that the recommendation to file the case was due to “fundamental” errors committed by the interpellant, Jorge Peñafiel, of the Construye movement. According to the Correa supporters, Peñafiel did not individualize the accusations for each of the interpellated and did not present sufficient evidence of failure to fulfill his duties.
Despite these criticisms, the Oversight Commission, with a Correa majority, approved a report suggesting that the impeachment trial against former member Xavier Muñoz continue. This Monday, Peñafiel presented a motion to not accept the recommendation to file and continue with the impeachment, with the support of the benches of the Social Christian Party (PSC) and the pro-government National Democratic Action (ADN).
The head of the Assembly, Henry Kronfle, recommended that the impeachment process against Terán and Barreno continue on July 16. Terán, linked to Correa, also faces prosecution in the Metástasis case, which investigates an organized crime network in the judiciary and its support for organized crime. Along with Barreno, Terán is also one of the 13 defendants in the case called Judicial Independence.