The president of Ecuador appoints two new ministers to replace the resignations within his Executive

MADRID, 6 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, announced on Tuesday the appointment of two new ministers to replace the resignations of three of his ministers that have taken place after the social protests that have plagued the country for more than two weeks.

After this Tuesday morning Lasso accepted the resignation of those in charge of the Ministries of Economy and Finance, Public Health and Transport and Public Works, in the afternoon he appointed new ministers to replace his predecessors in office, although without filling the vacancy of the Ministry of Health.

Specifically, the until now governor of the province of Guayas, Pablo Arosemena, will be in charge of replacing Simón Cueva in the Ministry of Economy and Finance, as reported by the Ecuadorian Presidency in a statement.

Likewise, Darío Herrera will go from the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing (Miduvi) to the Ministry of Transport and Public Works (MTOP), which was occupied by Marcelo Cabrera. At Miduvi, the person in charge of leading the Ministry will be María Gabriela Aguilera, who previously held the position of deputy minister.

However, Lasso has not yet appointed the replacement at the head of the Ministry of Health, which until now was directed by Ximena Garzón, whom the Ecuadorian president has congratulated for the vaccination plan against COVID-19.

On the other hand, the president of Ecuador has appointed two other minor positions, such as the Secretary of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (Senescyt), which will be led by Andrea Montalvo; and that of the Board of Directors of the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute (IESS), which will be chaired by Alfredo Ortega, as detailed in the letter from the Ecuadorian Presidency.

Hours earlier, Lasso accepted the resignation of Simón Cueva as head of the Economy portfolio, of Ximena Garzón as the highest representative of Public Health and of Marcelo Cabrera as Minister of Transport and Public Works. Along with them, he also presented his resignation from the position Alejandro Ribadeneira, until now at the head of the Secretary of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation.

"President Lasso thanks the outgoing authorities for the loyal and valuable services provided in the exercise of their functions," added the General Secretariat for Communication of the Presidency.

Senior officials have submitted their resignations after a series of mobilizations led by indigenous groups that demonstrated for the high cost of living in the South American nation.