MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ecuador preparing for October election

Ecuador's Constitutional Tribunal confirmed Tuesday that former President Lucio Gutierrez, ousted by Congress last year, may not run again next October.

The head of the tribunal, Santiago Velazquez, said he and his colleagues rejected an appeal presented last month by a provincial judge trying to overturn the decision by the TSE electoral court derailing Gutierrez's plans to enter this year's contest.

Last May 11 the TSE banned Gutierrez from active politics for two years after determining that he accepted illegal contributions during his successful 2002 campaign.

Velazquez announced the Constitutional Tribunal's ruling amid protests by Gutierrez supporters who heckled the judges complaining the decision was "illegitimate and influenced by political pressure".

Gutierrez, who took office in January 2003, was removed by Ecuador's Congress April 20, 2005, following a political plot described by many as constitutionally "dubious".

Members of Congress then went on to proclaim Vice President Alfredo Palacio as head of the Executive.

During several months of self-imposed exile, Gutierrez denounced Palacio as a "traitor" and "coup-plotter" remarks that resulted in the ousted president's being jailed on sedition charges when he returned to Quito. But that indictment was tossed out earlier this year.

The most recent public opinion polls show the top contenders in Ecuador's coming presidential race to be former Vice President Leon Roldos and deputy congressional speaker Cynthia Viteri, but both with less than 30% support.