President of Ecuador faces ouster vote following Indigenous protests

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Ecuador's National Assembly launched a no-confidence vote against President Guillermo Lasso on Saturday, nearly two weeks after he declared a state of emergency in response to sometimes violent countrywide protests where security forces used excessive violence against protesters, resulting in the death of a number of Indigenous members. 

Read more: Ecuador protests: 3 dead, 92 wounded, 94 arrested

In the nationwide protests, which are concentrated in Quito, the capital, dozens have been injured. Indigenous groups have stood their ground, promising that they will continue to voice their grievances until their demands are met.

Small protests were launched by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, CONAIE against the country's social and economic policies on June 13. The next day, the police detained CONAIE's leader, Leonidas Iza, for 24 hours on allegations of interfering with the functioning of public services.

In order to continue discussions, Iza, who is now facing criminal charges, requested that the government assure the safety of protesters, abolish the state of emergency, and evacuate the military. He also stated that a paper comprising ten requests, which had been ignored by the government for almost a year, was still on the table.

The Assembly will vote on whether to remove Lasso, who assumed control a year ago. His dismissal would need 92 out of 137 votes.

If Lasso is deposed, Vice President Alfredo Borrero will take over as interim president and schedule new presidential and parliamentary elections.

The attempted overthrow comes as tens of thousands of protesters take part in a statewide demonstration against mounting hardship in an economy hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak.

Most of the rage is focused on Quito, where 10,000 people, mostly from distant areas of the country, have come for daily rallies, yelling "Out Lasso, out!"

Lasso withdrew the state of emergency that had been in place in six regions due to the demonstrations shortly after the discussion began.

Read more: Ecuador police requisition Indigenous center to monitor protests

According to the president of the Parliament, Virgilio Saquicela, indigenous leaders and government representatives met for the first time on Saturday in Quito to begin a discussion.

After two days of violent confrontations with police and troops, Lasso accused protestors of trying "a coup".

In the southern town of Tarqui, on Wednesday, a 38-year-old Indigenous protester died, according to the Alliance of Human Rights Organizations, who have accused the Ecuadorian security forces of killing the protester and generally using violent tactics.

Farmer Miguel Taday told AFP that he joined the protests because "basic necessities are very expensive and our products from the field... are worth nothing."

Protesters are calling for a reduction in already subsidized gasoline costs, which have risen substantially in recent months, as well as jobs, price restrictions on food, and increased government investment in healthcare and education.

The administration has rejected the demonstrators' demand for a reduction in fuel prices, claiming that it would cost an unsustainable $1 billion per year.

The International Monetary Fund authorized the release of $1 billion in cash for Ecuador on Friday, following two reviews of a $6.5 billion loan agreement, of which $4.8 billion has already been disbursed.

The payment is intended to help Ecuador recover economically from the Covid-19 outbreak, restore fiscal sustainability, and reduce governmental debt.

Austerity measures imposed by then-President Lenin Moreno sparked a wave of protests in 2019 that left 11 people dead and hundreds wounded but forced the government to abandon plans to reduce gasoline subsidies.

A protester in Quito said, "We will continue to fight... The rank and file have said that we will not return without results."

Lasso lifts emergency state

Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso revoked the state of emergency declared in six districts earlier this month in response to indigenous protests against the government.

The removal of the state of emergency, which was declared on June 20, is one of the indigenous groups' conditions for conducting talks with Ecuador's government.

In a decree signed Saturday, Lasso declared "the termination of the state of emergency due to serious internal commotion in the provinces of Chimborazo, Tungurahua, Cotopaxi, Pichincha, Pastaza, and Imbabura," thus repealing the state of emergency imposed on the 13th day of protests.