André Deak
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília – The ex-President of Ecuador, Lúcio Gutiérrez, gave up the political asylum granted by Brazil in April, according to an official note of the Ministry of Foreign Relations. By making this decision, communicated to the Ministry of Justice on Monday, June 6, Gutiérrez may stay in Brazil as a tourist with free transit, but will lose the special security scheme maintained while he was a political refugee. His wife and daughter had already given up the asylum in May.

According to the note, it is a personal decision, on what the Brazilian government doesn’t have the right to opine.

The family left Ecuador on April 24th, three days after Lucio Gutiérrez’ removal from presidency. Before embarking to Brazil, the ex-President of Ecuador stayed at the Brazilian Embassy, in Quito, until he was able to leave the place in a mission directed by the Brazilian Air Force. The Embassy was surrounded by protesters that opposed to Gutiérrez fleeing the country.

Gutiérrez’ older daughter, Carina Ximena, is an Army cadet, and opted to stay in Ecuador. Lucio Gutiérrez decided to request asylum to Brazil after several popular protests against his government, and the voting session at the Ecuador’s National Congress that resulted in his removal.

Translation: Andréa Alves