Guayaquil mayor's lawyer calls investigation 'stupid,' alleges political persecution

Ramiro García, the lawyer for Guayaquil Mayor Aquiles Alvarez, has vehemently criticized the preliminary investigation launched against his client, labeling it "stupid." The probe stems from five posts Alvarez made on X (formerly Twitter) that criticized the functioning of the justice system. García argued that accusing his client of obstructing justice based on these public posts, which he claims highlight judicial precariousness and manipulation, is baseless.

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A preliminary investigation has been opened, which is quite stupid, over five tweets. It is clear that calling obstruction of justice five tweets, in which, moreover, the judicial precariousness and the way justice is manipulated are publicly described, makes no sense.

Speaking on Radio Pichincha, García asserted that Ecuador is not living in a democracy and that the separation of powers no longer exists. He accused the Council of the Judiciary of acting as an operator for the government and the Prosecutor's Office of being a "lapdog" of the executive power. García stated he was notified of the investigation last Friday and, alarmingly, that on the same morning, an challenge was filed against his own candidacy for the Citizen Participation Council, citing this investigation.

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It is clear that we do not live in a democracy, that the separation of powers currently does not exist; that the Council of the Judiciary has become a sort of manager, an operator of governmental power, of the Executive, and that the Prosecutor's Office is a lapdog of power.

Alvarez himself is reportedly suffering from significant health issues, having lost 35% of his body weight and dealing with pre-existing cardiac and gallbladder conditions. His legal team plans to request a surgery date soon. This new investigation into Alvarez follows a previous case where a judge ordered him to stand trial for allegedly manipulating and removing an electronic ankle monitor. That case is related to an investigation into alleged money laundering within his family's fuel business.

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it is unacceptable that lawyers are prosecuted for exercising their defenses.