Esquel court upholds removal of cooperative official over gender violence allegations

An appeals court in Esquel has upheld the immediate removal of a board member from the Cooperativa 16 de Octubre Ltda. following allegations of gender-based violence against two women.

The court ruled that the cooperative's assembly of members holds the absolute legal authority to remove administrators at any time without the requirement of a prior administrative summary. This decision follows a dispute initiated by the former counselor, who challenged his removal by claiming it was unconstitutional due to a lack of a formal defense process.

The removal was originally decided during an ordinary assembly on October 31, 2023, after members lost confidence in the official due to the gravity of the physical aggression allegations. The judicial ruling confirms the legality of the assembly's decision to displace the official from his position.