Ecuador’s history is marked by dozens of political and economic crises, intense polarization, radicalization of parties and the overthrow of several presidents.
But this is the first time that a president of the country has taken the initiative to dissolve the National Assembly and call new elections – which also causes him to lose his mandate.
President Guillermo Lasso’s decision to make use of the instrument, called “cross death” (precisely because it leads to the end of the mandate of both the head of the executive branch and the legislators), will most likely set yet another great precedent in the already dramatic political history from the country.
And this is bound to bring even more instability in the future, with other leaders likely to be tempted to use “cross-death” in situations of acute crises and clashes with Parliament.
deposition of presidents
Ecuador’s presidents tend to have short political lives.
In ten years, from 1997 to 2007, the country had no fewer than seven presidents – and none of them managed to finish their term.
And each one fell in a different way. One of them, Abdalá Bucaram, nicknamed “el loco”, was ousted when parliament declared that he lacked the mental stability to govern. Another, Jamil Mahuad, was overthrown in a coup.
In the following years, leftist Rafael Correa managed to remain in office for 10 years, but he was involved in many controversies and accusations. He ended up sentenced, in 2020, to eight years in prison for corruption. Today, he lives in exile in Belgium.
His successor, Lenin Moreno, is also being prosecuted on corruption charges and the country’s public prosecutor asked for his house arrest in March this year.
Lasso, the current president, decided to resort to “cross-death” – a possibility regulated by the country’s constitution since 2008 – to avoid certain impeachment.
The president faces, as with most of his predecessors, a hostile parliament, economic instability and a growing increase in violence provoked by organized crime.
Dissolving parliament and calling new elections in six months will not immediately solve any of these problems.
The political landscape of great political division and polarization indicates that the crisis may continue. And lead to many more “cross-deaths” in the future.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
