4/11/23, 12:30 PM Ecuadorian President threatens media outlet that revealed alleged corruption within his administration : Peoples

stration : Peoples Dispatch

REGIONS  ABOUT  ESPAÑOL    

Ecuadorian President threatens media outlet that RELATED STORIES

revealed alleged corruption within his administration
A local outlet published details of a report from the Anti-Narcotics Police of Ecuador, revealing alleged
links between the Lasso government and mafia, drug trafficking and corruption
February 16, 2023 by Peoples Dispatch

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Ecuadorian Congress to review

request to impeach President
Guillermo Lasso
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Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso threatened to fight the La Posta media outlet, after it published a report that revealed
the alleged links between his government and the Albanian mafia. Photo: Guillermo Lasso/Twitter 
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On Tuesday, February 14, Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso threatened the journalist team of the digital other stories
media outlet La Posta, after it published a series of documents and audio recordings linking government officials 
and the president’s brother-in-law, Danilo Carrera, with alleged acts of corruption and drug trafficking.

During a message to the nation on Tuesday night, Lasso criticized the publication of a confidential report,
without clarifying that it was archived by the Prosecutor’s Office after a court order due to the “lack of merits”
to continue with the investigation. RECENT ARTICLES

“A digital media has insinuated that the President is allegedly involved in a supposed network of corruption.
These characters have attacked my integrity and that of my family. And I am not going to allow [that],” said
Lasso.

Lasso also claimed that “some sensationalist acolytes have said, invented, published, broadcast any absurd
cartoon” to obtain perks, adding that “my patience has a limit and their impudence is unlimited.” 

“The 15 minutes of fame of these entertainment mercenaries has come to an end,” said Lasso. He announced
that he would “fight those who want to violate freedom of expression.” No jobs – unless you want seasonal work
in farms
He claimed that his government was honest and that there was no corruption network or plot within his
administration. Regarding his brother-in-law, he said that he acknowledges that he “might not have been
suspicious enough to detect dishonest people who wanted to use him,” adding that no one from his family has
ever participated in the decisions of his administration.

La Posta rejected President Lasso’s statements. “We reject the policing, intimidating, authoritarian and
misguided attitude of the President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso, who has used a national network to
discredit our work and, at the same time, openly threatens us in order to stop our investigations of corruption in
his government. La Posta ratifies to the country that it will stand its ground and that it will continue to publish all  |
Julian Assange, WikiLeaks & war crimes
the findings of the El Gran Padrino case,” said the media outlet in a statement. Peter Mertens meets Stella Assange

On Monday, February 13, La Posta reported details from an investigative report prepared by the Anti-Narcotics 50 years after Chile’s coup, the first year
Police of Ecuador between May and July 2021, which revealed the alleged links of Rubén Chérres, who has of Popular Unity
been identified as a friend of Danilo Carrera, with members of the Albanian mafia. Chérres is a close ally of the
national government and is already being investigated for an alleged corruption scheme in public companies.

https://peoplesdispatch.org/2023/02/16/ecuadorian-president-threatens-media-outlet-that-revealed-alleged-corruption-within-his-administration/ 1/2
4/11/23, 12:30 PM Ecuadorian President threatens media outlet that revealed alleged corruption within his administration : Peoples Dispatch
Carrera does not hold any position in the government, but due to the collaboration of his friend Chérres, he
manages appointments to high positions within public companies and ministries, and decides which private
companies work with the State in exchange for bribes.

According to the report, Chérres and Carrera have influence over key institutions, such as the Customs service
and the Ministry of Energy. The report revealed that the Albanian mafia has chosen Ecuador as a strategic point
for drug trafficking operations, while its members disguise themselves under the facades of big businessmen
and launder assets and promote arms and human trafficking in the country. The report also revealed that
according to a transcript of a telephone call, Chérres admitted that he and his associates had contributed at
least USD$1.5 million to Lasso’s presidential campaign in 2021.

After sharing the details of the report on their platforms, members of La Posta presented the documents which
serve as evidence to support their journalistic work to Ecuador’s National Assembly during a session
investigating Carrera.

On Tuesday, Lasso’s Agriculture and Livestock Minister Bernardo Manzano resigned from office. Manzano’s
name appeared in a series of intercepted calls with Chérres. He denied that he was given the position through
Chérres, although he admitted having given him his resume months before being appointed, and argued that his
departure is to avoid any suspicion that affects the president.

The scandal further weakens the Lasso government at a time when the opposition-dominated National
Assembly is investigating an alleged case of corruption involving his administration and public energy
companies. On Tuesday, Lasso was summoned to appear before the parliament to speak about the case.
However, he did not attend and excused his absence, citing problems with his agenda.

Read more: Ecuador registers three prison massacres in three days

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