Fernando Cordero to Head Ecuadorian Assembly

Quito, Jun 24 (Prensa Latina) Fernando Cordero, first vice president of the Constituent Assembly, will be sworn in on Tuesday to head that institution, replacing Alberto Acosta, who resigned recently.

The decision was made on Monday night at a meeting of the political bureau of the Acuerdo Pais (AP) movement, which holds the majority of seats at the Constituent Assembly.

Participants in the meeting, held at the Eloy Alfaro de Manta University, in the province of Manabi, agreed to accept Acosta's resignation, which could not be submitted to the Assembly on Sunday due to a lack of quorum.

Acosta told a news conference at the Assembly's headquarters in Montecristi that he had resigned irrevocably because of his opposition to speed up the debates on the Constitution to have it ready by July 26.

Most members of Acuerdo Pais, the movement I belong to and to which I ratify my membership, have agreed to speed up the works to present the Constitution before the deadline (July 26), pointed out Acosta, who added that the AP political bureau asked him to cede the leadership to another member to have the Constitution ready before the deadline.

That was why he decided to resign. However, he made it clear that he will remain in the movement as an assembly member to contribute to the drawing up of the future Constitution, which will boost changes in this Andean nation.

Cordero, an architect, ex deputy and former Cuenca mayor, was the second most voted candidate in last year's elections for the Constituent Assembly, after Acosta.