César Monge, former minister and architect of Guillermo Lasso’s political career, dies

(CNN Spanish) – The government of Ecuador confirmed this Sunday that the former Minister of Government and former Assemblyman, César Monge, died at the age of 49 after suffering from digestive cancer.

Monge was a co-founder of the Creando Oportunidades (CREO) movement in 2012 together with current President Guillermo Lasso, whom he accompanied in his three electoral campaigns until he achieved the presidential victory in April 2021.

Monge presided over the CREO movement and, before starting his path in politics, he served as a shrimp businessman and leader of business unions.

In July 2020, he publicly announced that he should take a hiatus from his political life to focus on “saving his life” after being diagnosed with digestive cancer. “Today I must take a break on this path,” Monge had written in 2020, but months later, after receiving treatment in the United States, he rejoined the electoral campaign and accompanied Lasso in the first and second electoral rounds.

This Sunday, President Guillermo Lasso mourned the death of César Monge, whom he always described as a “brother”:

“César Monge Ortega, my dear friend, soul brother and comrade in struggle, has left us this morning. May God have him in his glory and give comfort to Mercedes, her children and her family. Thanks for everything César, we will always remember you. Rest in peace, “wrote the Ecuadorian president.

For his part, Vice President Alfredo Borrero wrote on his Twitter account: “With deep sorrow I say to you soon dear César Monge, friend, comrade in struggle, a loyal and committed to the country, for you we have come this far and in your name we will work tirelessly for our country ”.

The CREO Movement on its official Twitter account sent a note of condolences and solidarity to Monge’s family.

Monge won a seat as an assemblyman of CREO in the general elections of February 2021 and, after being appointed Minister of Government, he became part of the presidential cabinet, but his health condition prevented him from continuing in office.

On July 9, Lasso decorated Monge with the national order of merit in the rank of Grand Cross while he was serving as Minister of Government. The recognition was given to him for his services to the country in the public and private sectors.

Days later, Monge resigned from his position to focus on his health.

César Monge was the father of two children, had obtained a master’s degree in Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland and studied economics at Clark University in Massachusetts, according to Guillermo Lasso’s official website.