Judge Daniella Camacho of the National Court of Justice requested the National Assembly to authorize a criminal trial against Esther Cuesta, former acting president of the Legislature. The request arises in the context of the Ligados case, an investigation exposing an alleged network of influence in the Citizen Participation Council and other public entities.
According to the Prosecutor's Office, Cuesta allegedly intervened politically to prevent the appointment of a banking official, favoring the interests of correísmo. In the revealed chats, her name appears linked to maneuvers to block the appointment of Roberto Romero von Buchwald as Superintendent of Banks and place Raúl González in his place.
The judge's request occurs before a possible hearing for the formulation of charges for illicit association, where they would also seek to include Andrés Arauz and Raúl Carrión. The case was left in the hands of prosecutor Wilson Toainga, following the resignation of Diana Salazar, adding institutional tension to the process.
For Cuesta to be tried, the Assembly must lift her immunity with at least 101 votes. If it doesn't rule within 30 days, the request will be automatically considered accepted. This constitutional provision prevents political blocking of judicial processes, although the current legislative fragmentation makes immediate approval unlikely.
