Ecuador's Congress voted Wednesday to remove President Lucio Gutierrez from office by a 62-0 vote. According tom the Associated Press, the removal was based on a clause in Ecuador's Constitution that allows Congress to remove a president for "abandonment of the position:"
"Congress in representation of the Ecuadorean people has proceeded ... to declare Col. Lucio Gutierrez in abandonment of the position of constitutional president. Therefore, he has been ceased in the position."
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Gutierrez was elected president in November 2002 after campaigning as a populist, anti-corruption reformer. But his left-leaning constituency soon fell apart after he instituted austerity measures, including cutting subsidies on food and cooking fuel, to satisfy lenders like the International Monetary Fund.
Vice President Alfredo Palacio has been sworn in to replace Gutierrez.
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