Ecuador assembly votes to carry on Lasso impeachment trial

Opposition assembly members vote on whether to proceed with an impeachment process against Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso, at the National Assembly in Quito, Ecuador May 9, 2023. REUTERS/Karen Toro

QUITO (Reuters) - Lawmakers in Ecuador's National Assembly voted on Tuesday to continue an impeachment process against President Guillermo Lasso over embezzlement accusations, potentially moving the labyrinthine process toward its final stage.

Lasso has always denied accusations that he turned a blind eye to alleged embezzlement related to a contract at state-owned oil transportation company Flopec, arguing his administration made profitable changes to the deal, which was signed years before he took office.