Ecuador: Constituent Assembly president resigns (updated)

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Alberto Acosta resigns with backing of opposition

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Updates: On 24 June 2008, the Ecuadorian Constituent Assembly accepted the resignation of its President Alberto Acosta. Seventy seven -out of a 100- Assembly MPs voted in favour of learning and accepting his resignation. In his message to the Assembly, Acosta explained that the reason behind his resignation was time conception differences on the constitutional reform. Acosta favours a longer span of time for discussing reform but there is a set work schedule to deliver a finished project in five weeks. Most of the work is already accomplished, Acosta added. Finally, Acosta clarified he did not intend to leave the Assembly nor the governing left wing party Acuerdo Pais.  Local newspaper Hoy informed government is ready to appoint Fernando Cordero as the new President of the Constituent Assembly.  

Caracas, Venezuela, 23 June 2008. Today, the President of the Ecuadorian Constituent Assembly, Alberto Acosta , resigned just weeks before the referendum on a drafted constitution.

A member of pro government Acuerdo Pais party, Acosta, was asked last week by President Rafael Correa to meet dead lines over the drafted constitution. The drafted constitution shoul be ready by 26 July 2008.  In response to the Presidential order, Acosta replied later that democracy could not be on a rush. Thus, he most surprising resignation has been interpreted as a managerial pitfall. On Tuesday, 24 July, 2008, Acosta will explain his resignation at the Assembly.

In a very complex election, Ecuador voted for a Constituent Assembly on 30 September 2007. Pro government Acueredo Pais party won 78 seats.  Due to some administrative delays, it only stated working on the drafting of a new constitution on 29 November 2007. It only has six months to submit its draft constitution project for a national referendum.

Sources: YVKE, VTV, Telesur, Unionradio,  BBC Mundo, El Comercio, Hoy, La Hora, Telegrafo, El Universo,