
Ecuador's Agriculture Minister Bernardo Manzano has resigned from his post after his name was mentioned in the investigation into corruption and drug trafficking links involving people close to President Guillermo Lasso and the Albanian mafia.
His departure came just hours after he admitted sending his CV to Rubén Cherres, who had close ties to Danilo Carrera, the brother-in-law of the President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso.
According to "La Posta" media, Carrera was negotiating for jobs in the ministry, while Cherrez is being investigated for his relationship with an Albanian accused of drug trafficking.
In an interview for "Sonorama", he stated that he is not friends with Cherres, but he had a social meeting with him in July 2021 and the latter had asked him if he was interested in the position of Minister of Agriculture. Manzanoi admitted that he had sent his CV, but clarified that he was not appointed minister at that time, but in May 2022.
In his resignation letter, Manzanoi said he did not become a minister because of this intervention, but said he "sees it reasonable to leave, to prevent damage to the government."
This Monday, an Ecuadorian intelligence report, brought to light by "La Posta", revealed the alleged connections of the Ecuadorian president with the Albanian mafia and drug trafficking, a situation that, according to some analysts, could bring the end of the mandate of his in Ecuador.