Virgilio Saquicela

Javier Virgilio Saquicela Espinoza (born 8 July 1972) is an Ecuadorian lawyer and politician who was the President of the National Assembly of Ecuador from 2022 to 2023. He served as mayor of Azogues between 2014 and 2019. He was ousted as President of the National Assembly after President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the National Assembly on 17 May 2023.

Early life Saquicela was born on 8 July 1972, in the Ecuadorian city of Azogues. He completed his primary and secondary education in his hometown, while higher education was carried out at the University of Cuenca, where he obtained a law degree.

Saquicela became the president of the National Assembly of Ecuador on 31 May 2022 after a motion to dismiss Guadalupe Llori was approved, with a majority of 81 votes in favor out of 137. He pledged to defend the institutionality of the National Assembly.

On 17 May 2023, Saquicela was removed from office along will all assembly members following President Guillermo Lasso's decision to invoke muerte cruzada. The following day, he filed a lawsuit before the Constitutional Court against Lasso's decree calling it unconstitutional.