Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
Abdala Bucaram, who was deposed Feb. 6 as Ecuador’s president, has been granted political asylum in Panama, the Foreign Ministry said Monday.
“The government has given political asylum to Bucaram, his wife, children and brother,” spokesman Erich Rodriguez said.
The measure covered Bucaram’s wife, Rosa Maria Pulley; their four children, ranging in age from 13 to 18, and his brother, Santiago, who was expelled from Ecuador’s Congress.
Bucaram was voted out by Congress on grounds of “mental incompetence” after six months in office, and he arrived here a few days later. The populist leader, known as “El Loco” (the crazy one) for his eccentric style, had lived in exile in Panama in 1985-90 after fleeing corruption charges as mayor of Guayaquil.
