First modification:
Guillermo Lasso, threatened with dismissal, decreed this Wednesday the dissolution of Congress, which implies bringing forward the legislative and presidential elections.
The unpopular right-wing president, accused by the legislative opposition of alleged corruption in oil transportation contracts, ordered “the dissolution of the National Assembly due to a serious political crisis and internal commotion,” says the document released by the presidency.
In a country mired in violence linked to drug trafficking and popular discontent over the cost of living, Lasso asked the National Electoral Council (CNE) to call early general elections.
The Constitution establishes that within a maximum period of seven days after the publication of the dissolution decree in the Official Gazette, the electoral body will call legislative and presidential elections to complete the current four-year term.
“It is a democratic decision not only because it is constitutional, but because it gives the Ecuadorian people back the possibility of deciding,” Lasso said on national television.
Former President Rafael Correa reacted on the networks to the news, objecting to the legality of Lasso’s initiative, although he considered it an opportunity to end his government.
Ecuadorians:
This is illegal. It is obvious that there is no state of internal commotion, but a political trial in application of the Constitution.
In any case, it is the great opportunity to send Lasso, his government and his legislators for hire home.
Today closer than… https://t.co/P9igzA0mL3— Rafael Correa (@MashiRafael) May 17, 2023
In the same sense, the opposition assembly member Mireya Pazmiño, interviewed by RFI. “The President of the Republic, seeing himself cornered, lost [mientras] we are in a process of control in the National Assembly according to our powers, it has issued a ‘cross death’ to save itself, as an air bag, this is illegal. It must meet certain conditions and he has mentioned that he issues a ‘cross death’ for a political upheaval and a serious internal crisis, something that does not exist,” he said.
“When they find themselves undecided, whether or not they have the votes to save themselves, they issue this ‘cross death’ that the Constitution does not allow. If the president does not get the votes on Saturday, at that moment he can make the decision, but at this moment when we are in an impeachment process, it is totally illegal, ”he added.
The reaction of the opposition assemblywoman Mireya Pazmiño to the microphone of Carlos Pizarro from RFI
The accusation
The ruler appeared before the National Assembly on Tuesday to defend himself against the accusations of alleged embezzlement.
According to the complaints, Lasso decided to continue with a contract that was signed before he took office, despite reports that it was detrimental to the state.
The contract for the transportation of crude oil with the international group Amazonas Tanker left losses of more than 6 million dollars. The president has not been prosecuted for any crime in ordinary justice and assured that he filed a complaint with the Prosecutor’s Office in 2022 to investigate the case.
Until the installation of the new National Assembly, Lasso will be able to govern by issuing decree-laws of economic urgency, but with the prior favorable opinion of the Constitutional Court.
This is the first time that a president applies the so-called “cross death”, which can be exercised only once during the first three years of the mandate.
Parliament had tried last June to remove Lasso amid violent indigenous protests against the high cost of living, but fell short of 12 votes to remove him from power.
