Correa denounces "intrigue" and says that it will not be delivered – World – Latest news from Uruguay and the world updated

Practically out of nowhere, Rafael Correa left the academy to become the most popular and powerful president of Ecuador. Until a year ago, nobody imagined the dark times of this loquacious and irascible leader of the left. After a decade in power, Correa is likely to go to jail for his alleged involvement in the brief kidnapping of an opponent in Colombia in 2012.

The arrest warrant was issued by Judge Daniella Camacho after Correa he failed to appear in court every two weeks from 2 July, and instead settled at the Ecuadorian consulate in Brussels, where he resides.

Correa, 55, left the government in May 2017 the former vice president Lenin Moreno. But as soon as he released the reins of the presidency and left for what should be a quiet retirement in Belgium with his family, his problems began. First the political divorce with Moreno – whom he calls the "traitor and incompetent" – and then the corruption charges under his government – who has his other former vice president Jorge Glas in prison – and now l & # 39; 39, criminal investigation for kidnapping in which he denies having participated.

Intelligent and intelligent, Correa goes from easy smile to anger. His worshipers almost worship him with religious devotion, and his enemies do not bite their tongues to call him a despot.

Today destiny brings him closer to the tragedy of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva – the most popular political leader in Brazil imprisoned since April on charges of corruption – that of the silent retreat to which he claimed to aspire when leaving Ecuador for Belgium.

Correa came to power without a political career after being finance minister for three months in 2005. Under his government, advances a new constitution, tirelessly struggling with the press that he regards as "mediocre and corrupt" and openly challenges the United States with the expulsion of diplomats and the non-renewal of an agreement to operate a drug base.

Balda

One of the men who calls himself sympathetic to his project left, eventually becomes the corner that tightens it the most. Fernando Balda, former opposition MP after being part of the ruling party, accuses him of ordering his abduction when he was a refugee in Bogotá in 2012. Although five people managed to get him into a car, the Colombian police intercepted the vehicle.

The public prosecutor investigates Correa for alleged involvement in conspiracy and kidnapping crimes, while the judge orders his preventive detention and activates a red circular for Interpol in order to locate him for extradition.

Balda's break with Correa occurs when the former MP goes to opposition and becomes a harsh critic of the government, which he accuses of corruption. Correa, meanwhile, denounces Balda for being part of a plot to overthrow him.

"Conspiracy".

From Belgium, Correa defended yesterday, denouncing a "plot" of the current Moreno government. "There is a whole roadmap (…) There is quite a plot," said Correa in an interview with AFP in Brussels, expressing his confidence that Interpol will reject the red circular published by Ecuadorian justice. it is a "political" case.

For Correa, the government of his successor Lenin Moreno is "no doubt" behind the "plot". "He is behind all this, the judiciarization of politics," he added. According to Correa, Moreno "met Balda, with the previous prosecutor to imprison Jorge Glas", in reference to his vice president between 2013 and 2017, sentenced to six years in prison for receiving $ 13.5 million from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht

To be prosecuted in the Balda case, the exmandatario should be in Ecuador because it is a crime for which the national law prevents trial in absentia, although that he has excluded from traveling because of the situation in the country, "

" Why do I still have to sacrifice my family? "I offered my family after 10 years of marginalization to be devoted to my country (years of peace in Belgium, even living and dying in Belgium," added Correa, whose wife is a Belgian

"Doing justice".

The former deputy Balda considered the arrest warrant against Correa means that he wants to "do justice" to the attempt to kidnapping that he lived in Colombia in 2012.

"Justice has started to be done in an exemplary manner.A more important step has been taken in the administration of justice in the case of my kidnapping, "Balda said at the end of the hearing during which the National Court of Justice (NYC) of Ecuador imposed the preventive arrest of Correa. Balda, the decision of Correa "not to attend the judge's appeal has turned him into a fugitive from justice" and what "happened is a consequence of the acts of the Former president. "

" We received this moment with a lot of maturity, with a lot of responsibilities. And as we have announced, there must be justice for all state crimes committed during the correísmo, "he said.

Balda said that he" did not " will rest "and that his case is" only the first "They will open against Correa, because" we are going to promote justice in all cases. "" This is not a political persecution but a crime of d & # 39; Serious state. "