Walter Solís is arrested: a new blow to Correísmo and its ties to corruption

Walter Solís, former Minister of Transportation and Public Works during Rafael Correa's government, was detained by Interpol in Mexico, where he resided under refugee status. 

Solís faces legal proceedings in Ecuador, including embezzlement charges in the Manabí Reconstruction case. This case also involves former Vice President Jorge Glas, currently held in La Roca prison in Guayaquil.

The news of the detention sparked reactions in the political sphere. Rafael Correa, on his X account (formerly Twitter), called the legal process a "ridiculousness."

"The Reconstruction case is a ridiculousness  and was reactivated by Diana Salazar, after 5 years, as revenge for her political trial.  Enough is enough!", wrote Correa.

A history of corruption in Correa's administration

Walter Solís has two final sentences, each of eight years, for aggravated passive bribery (Bribes case 2012-2016) and embezzlement (Senagua case). In the Manabí Reconstruction case, he is accused of diverting funds intended for the emergency after the April 2016 earthquake, prioritizing projects unrelated to the reconstruction.

According to the Prosecutor's Office, the amount of the diversion amounts to $367 million, a blatant abuse of resources intended to assist the most affected populations.

Attorney General Diana Salazar indicated that Glas, Solís, and other officials from Correa's administration used public funds collected under the Organic Law of Solidarity for projects that did not meet the emergency needs. This scheme not only evidenced corruption but also a disregard for the urgencies of Manabí and Esmeraldas after the disaster.

Protection from Mexico?

Despite the extradition request issued by the President of the National Court of Justice (CNJ), José Suing,  the refugee status granted to Solís by Mexico in 2021 could complicate his return to Ecuador. The defense of the former minister, led by Sonia Vera, asserted that extraditing him would be illegal.

"We are blocking[the extradition]; he has refuge and is protected by the principle of non-refoulement", stated Vera.

However, this situation exposes political refuge as a tool to evade legal responsibilities.

A legacy of impunity

The case of Walter Solís is a reminder of the serious irregularities that marked Correa's administration. The rampant corruption during that period  not only plundered public coffers but also left thousands of Ecuadorians unprotected after a natural disaster.

Correa's administration, far from taking responsibility, attempts to delegitimize judicial actions, labeling them as political persecution. But the numbers speak:  billions diverted and a devastating impact on the population that needed it most. The detention of Solís and the ongoing proceedings are a step toward accountability.