The National Assembly reported that President Lasso’s brother-in-law, Daniel Carrera, was invited to appear before the commission, but refused to do so.
The president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, was summoned to appear this Monday before a commission of the National Assembly (unicameral parliament) that is investigating an alleged network of corruption in several public companies known as The Great Godfather.
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“We make a public call for the president to appear, so that it does not happen as in previous cases when Parliament has required his appearance,” said Viviana Veloz, president of the parliamentary commission.
The multiparty committee will hold a regular session this Monday, February 13, and, in addition to the president, other officials were summoned, including the interior ministers, Juan Zapata; of Energy and Mines, Xavier Vera Grunauer, and of Defense, Luis Lara Jaramillo.
Multiparty Commission receives new versions in the case “#ElGranPadrino”.#CaseEncounterhttps://t.co/NXKTSRjvyt
– National Assembly (@AsambleaEcuador)
February 12, 2023
The El Gran Padrino scandal, reported by the local media outlet La Posta, refers to an alleged corruption plot that would be headed by President Lasso’s brother-in-law, Danilo Carrera.
In a statement, the National Assembly reported that Carrera was invited to appear this Saturday before the so-called Commission for Truth, Justice and the Fight against Corruption, in the case called The Great Godfather.
The official text indicated that Eduardo Carmigniani, Carrera’s lawyer, sent a letter in which he explained that his client has no connection to corruption cases, therefore, he will not attend the call of the legislative table. Parliamentarian Augusto Guamán requested that he be summoned again.
The special commission must present a complete report on the alleged sale of positions and contracts in Ecuadorian State companies such as the National Electricity Corporation (Cnel) within a period of 30 days to the plenary session of the National Assembly; Ecuadorian Oil Fleet (Flopec); Petroecuador and the Electricity Corporation of Ecuador (Celec).