Ecuador opposition, lawyer for president duel at impeachment hearings

Assembly members attend a hearing as lawmakers seek to remove Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso from office over alleged embezzlement, in Quito, Ecuador April 26, 2023. REUTERS/Karen Toro

QUITO (Reuters) - A representative from Ecuador's opposition and a lawyer for President Guillermo Lasso on Wednesday gave dueling testimony to a congressional committee tasked with recommending whether to remove the conservative leader from office.

Opposition lawmakers have pushed impeachment hearings against the former banker, alleging Lasso disregarded possible embezzlement connected to an oil shipping contract between public company Flopec and a private-sector business.