He Ecuadorian journalist, Santiago Aguilar, reported in contact with Universo / Nación Media radio that the president of Ecuador, William Lasso, decided to dissolve the National Assembly. This situation arose as a result of the first time in history that a president of that country he was going to be judged politically.
He maintained that the president first made a lukewarm speech during his defense before the assembly members, and did not defend himself against the charges of which he was accused, but rather presented the list of his government’s achievements.
And this morning, very early, he surprised with the decision to dissolve the National Assembly using the constitutional tool of the “Cross Death”.
As explained by the journalist Alejandra Oraa on her Twitter account, cross death is a tool of the Constitution that allows the President of the Republic of Ecuador to dissolve the National Assembly, call general elections and govern by decree for six months.
The Constitution establishes three causal to declare it: 1. If the Assembly assumes functions that do not correspond to it constitutionally. 2. If repeatedly and unjustifiably, the Legislature obstructs the execution of the National Development Plan. 3. Due to a serious political crisis and internal commotion.
What happens in Ecuador?
The word “cross death” has become relevant after President Guillermo Lasso decreed it this morning. But what is cross death? And why does it worry the country’s political analysts so much? I explain it to you in this information thread:
— Alejandra Oraa (@alejandraoraa) May 17, 2023
In this sense, Aguilar reported that the argument of the Presidency was the hindrance of the Assembly in the development plan of the Government and the serious internal commotion.
The communicator explained that this is a democratic mechanism and that it isThe Government has already called on its officials to support it. In addition, the Assembly is besieged by the military and the center is fenced off. However, it is a normal day for the rest of the citizens.
Regarding what will happen from now on, Oraa indicates that new legislative and presidential elections should be called in six months, where he risks losing power. So that’s where the term “cross death” comes from, since both the president and the Assembly would lose their powers if the people decided so.
Since this procedure was introduced in the 2008 Constitution – under the Correa government – it has never been applied, and it was considered unlikely that Lasso would do so because it could be considered political suicide, according to the journalist.
Some analysts consider that decreeing cross death it would be a more favorable scenario for correistas, because holding early elections in this context of widespread discontent with the government, they could regain power. Cross death could also generate another serious problem for the Lasso executive and the country in general: a wave of protests with unforeseeable consequences.
MORE ABOUT THE SITUATION IN ECUADOR
Amid rising violence linked to drug trafficking and discontent over the cost of living, the decision could mean the end of the right-wing government and give the left that dominates Congress an opportunity to regain strength. The opposition leader is former president Rafael Correa, a fugitive in Europe and sentenced to eight years in prison for corruption.
The Constitution establishes that within a maximum period of seven days after the publication of the dissolution decree, legislative and presidential elections will be called to complete the current four-year term that began in May 2021 and ends in 2025.
“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, accompanied by his ministers.
The ruler appeared on Tuesday before the unicameral Congress to defend himself against the accusations of alleged embezzlement.
According to the complaints, Lasso he decided to continue with a contract that was signed before he became president, 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.
– “Constitutional exit” –
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.
“Without blockades, the government will issue a series of decree laws that will comply with the mandate sovereignly expressed by you,” said the president, who had a minority in the Legislature.
The headquarters of the Congress woke up under military guard, while the government palace in the historic center of Quito was guarded by a handful of uniformed men, AFP journalists verified.
This is the first time that a president applies the so-called “death crusade“, which can be exercised only once during the first three years of the mandate.
“The armed forces and the national police maintain and will maintain their position of absolute respect for the Constitution unchanged,” said General Nelson Proaño, head of the joint command of the Ecuadorian armed forces, in a video released by the Ministry of Defense.
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.
In his address, Lasso said that he decided to dissolve the National Assembly “to give Ecuador a constitutional solution,” a country that for years had a reputation for being ungovernable.
Between 1997 and 2005, three rulers who emerged from the polls were overthrown in the midst of popular revolts.
The debate on the impeachment trial against Lasso was to continue this Wednesday before a call for a vote on the impeachment, but Lasso anticipated and decreed the “death crusade“.
“This is not control, it is an obstruction that has generated a serious crisis and internal commotion,” said Lasso, who maintains that the trial against him is “contradictory, confusing, illegal and illegitimate.”
With information from AFP.
