A strong security deployment is visible outside the National Assembly (parliament) where the impeachment trial against President Guillermo Lasso takes place.

Quito.- Some 500 uniformed members of the National Police and the Armed Forces will be in charge of guarding the Parliament and the Government Palace on a day of high tension for the Andean country.

Several social organizations have called for demonstrations this Tuesday outside the Legislative to demand the approval of the trial and the removal of Lasso from office.

The session, scheduled for 10:00 (local time), will begin with the presentation of the arguments of the accusation and two legislators will have two hours to present the evidence found during the process.

According to the accusation, Lasso incurred the crime of embezzlement by knowing alleged irregularities in a contract between the state-owned Flota Petrolera Ecuatoriana (Flopec) and the company Amazonas Tanker, and yet he did not act to prevent further damage to the State. (PL)