A friend at court...?24 May 2021 13:02
Maria Amparo Alban...
"Ecuadorian Lawyer. Nominated in 2018, by the President of Ecuador (Lenin Moreno) in the triad for the position of Attorney General. More than fifteen years’ experience on the inter-linkages between trade, investment, and sustainability on which she has performed extensive work. Within her areas of expertise, has taken active roles in many multilateral forums such as the Ministerial Conferences of the World Trade Organization, among others. Has been Associate Professor at Catholic University of Quito and the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO). Served as an advisor to the Ministry of Environment of Ecuador as well as lead trade negotiator and advisor to the Minister of Trade, on trade policy matters, including the negotiations of a Trade Agreement between the Andean countries and the United States. Has extensive experience on national and international natural resources, trade and sustainability law and policy including in the drafting of environmental legislation...."
"On 11 April 2021, Guillermo Lasso (52,4%), the right-wing candidate, defeated Andres Arauz, the candidate supported by Rafael Correa and part of the Left, by 52.4% vs 47.6% in the second round of ballots for the presidential election. Lasso was elected thanks to the division of the Left, since a significant part of it, which has become deeply diffident of Rafael Correa, called for a null vote. Votes on the popular side, that represented a clear majority in the first round of February 2021, were divided, which made it possible for a former banker to be elected president. The situation is serious for an opportunity to break away from Lenin Moreno’s brutal neoliberal policies has been lost. Former banker Lasso, though critical of Lenin Moreno’s positions out of sheer electoral calculation, will continue in the same harmful direction: a deepening of neoliberal policies, submission to the private interests of Big Capital, particularly of Ecuador’s powerful banking sector and of the import-export industry, and submission to the United States. "