2023-05-18 07:01:00
The specter of democratic instability and institutional crisis rests once again on a Latin American country. This Wednesday, the president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, seized on a controversial constitutional article that allows him to dissolve Congress, but forces him to call early elections, both presidential and legislative.
Lasso, who adjusts 2 of his 4 years in office, resorted to this mechanism in the midst of a delicate governance crisis that has him on the verge of dismissal: his popularity is on the floor – only 14% of Ecuadorians support his management –, and was facing a political trial promoted by the left for alleged corruption.
Hence, faced with the threat that Congress would remove him, he invoked article 148, known as ‘cross death’. It is not an irregularity or coup, it is a figure that allows him to dissolve the National Assembly. Unlike the Colombian Congress, this corporation is made up of a single chamber where 137 legislators have a seat.
According to the norm, the president can go to that figure in 3 cases: if the Congress misappropriates or exaggeratedly other people’s functions; if “repeatedly and unjustifiably” its Development Plan is obstructed, or due to “serious political crisis and internal commotion”. Lasso made use of the last causal.
“It is a democratic decision not only because it is constitutional, but because it gives the people back the possibility of deciding,” justified the president, who went to the Assembly on Tuesday to defend himself against charges of alleged embezzlement.
According to the opposition – led by exiled former President Rafael Correa – Lasso ignored the warnings and continued a contract to transport crude oil (signed before it took office in 2021), which resulted in losses of more than 6 million dollars. .
“The only thing there is information that proves my total, evident and unquestionable innocence,” Lasso declared.
Professor Olga Lucia Illera, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the Jorge Tadeo Lozano University, explains that the mechanism used by Lassso is known as ‘cross death’ because both powers – Executive and Legislative – are questioned in their legitimacy, They are frozen and elections are called to reconfigure the political board. Since 2008, when the Constitution was promoted, it is the first time that this figure has been used.
“The original power is alluded to, that is, the electorate, so that it can speak again and indicate its preferences and reorganize forces. However, this can go wrong for Lasso, because there is a chance that he will win the opposition again, ”he explained.
While these elections are held, Lasso is empowered to issue decrees with the force of law related to economic urgency. These rules will be subject to control by the Constitutional Court and may be repealed.
However, President Guillermo Lasso resorted to the “cross death” in moments of popular effervescence and criticism for the increase in violent acts linked to drug trafficking. Precisely, the use of this mechanism led to protests in various parts of the country between followers of the Head of State and Correa.
“There is no state of internal commotion, but a political trial. In any case, it is a great opportunity to send Lasso home, his government and his legislators for hire, ”said Correa from his exile in Belgium. For its part, the Armed Forces defended that the mechanism is legal and “any attempt to alter order through violence to attack democracy will not be accepted.”
Professor Rafael Piñeros, a specialist in global governance and Latin American foreign policy from the Externado University, agreed that the call made by Lasso “is risky and unprecedented” and, although it is astute to tackle the crisis, a scenario of instability is worsening. “He wants to have greater representation, but it is not known. He puts the legitimacy of the Executive at stake ”.
“Lasso needs political support, not only to advance his proposals and his agenda, but also to benefit his trial,” added Denisse Grandas, director of the area of Political Science and International Relations at Tadeo University.
After Peru – where former President Pedro Castillo ended up being detained by a coup d’état – or Chile – where Gabriel Boric suffered a setback when he did not achieve majorities in a constituent assembly – Ecuador is now preparing for a scenario of political uncertainty.
“There is evidence of polarization and a political confrontation in the region between right-wing, center-left, and progressive currents,” said Professor Grandas, while Piñeros defended that popular effervescence “is not necessarily a symptom of a democratic crisis.”
What happens from now on will be decisive in consolidating democracy in Ecuador or increasing social discontent.
Correa, from exile earns income
In the midst of the crisis there is a protagonist who strengthens his political figure: former president Rafael Correa. Although the leader remains in exile in Belgium and was convicted of bribery, his movement –Revolución Ciudadana– has influence in the Assembly, since it has 49 of the 137 seats. For this reason, in the midst of the difficulties for the right, Correa and his combo could win the elections and add more seats for the left.
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