QUITO, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso will appear before the National Assembly to defend himself in an impeachment trial for alleged embezzlement, Government Minister Henry Cucalon announced Wednesday.
"The head of state will go to the National Assembly to defend his position and prove the truth," Cucalon told local television network Ecuavisa.
"The president has not committed embezzlement. So far, they have not been able to prove it because the evidence does not exist," he said.
On Tuesday, the assembly voted to hold the trial following opposition charges that Lasso embezzled public funds from a public-private sector contract for transporting crude oil.
Lasso, who will complete two years in office in two weeks, could be ousted with the votes of two-thirds of the 137-member National Assembly, or 92 lawmakers. ■
