Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso has dissolved the opposition-dominated parliament during impeachment proceedings. He has been accused of turning a blind eye to embezzlement allegations and faces a vote that could result in him being removed from office.
Mr Lasso, a Conservative, said the charges were politically motivated. He now has up to six months to rule by decree without any input from parliament until new general elections are held.
The constitutional clause Lasso invoked to order the dissolution of parliament and the holding of early elections is known as “Muerte Cruzada” (mutual death). Introduced in 2008, it had never been used in Ecuador. This is seen as an extreme measure and is likely to provoke rebel protests.
Mr Lasso said this was necessary “because of the deep political crisis and domestic unrest”.
The conservative president has accused the opposition-dominated parliament of obstructing reforms. He said it is impossible to solve Ecuadorian family problems when there is a parliament whose political mission is to destabilize democracy.
But rebels argued that it was the president who was undermining democracy by invoking “Muerte Cruzada.”
Ecuador’s influential coalition of indigenous groups, Conaye, called the move “dictatorial” and called a meeting late Wednesday.
Massive protests organized by Konaye, including blocking major highways, have paralyzed parts of the country before.
The opposition Social Christian Party is also questioning the constitutionality of dissolving the Diet. He said he would ask the Ecuadorian Constitutional Court to suspend Mr Lasso’s verdict.
However, the Ecuadorian military and police backed the president, arguing the move was constitutional.
Military commander Nelson Proaño also sent a message to those planning violent protests, warning that “this country will not accept any attempt to change the constitutional order through violence.”
Lasso’s announcement came just hours after the impeachment trial began, alleging he had knowledge of an embezzlement plot involving the state-owned oil shipping company.
On Tuesday, he vehemently defended himself, explaining that the allegations against him were politically motivated.
He told parliamentarians that his accusers, who are from his opposition party, lacked evidence. The president also said the embezzlement allegations arose before he took office.
The trial is scheduled to resume on Wednesday, with a final impeachment vote expected within days.
It took a two-thirds majority of 92 of the 137 MPs to remove the president from office.
Analysts said the fact that 88 lawmakers have voted to continue the impeachment process so far means the president faces a grave risk of being deposed.
The president chose what some call the “nuclear option” of dissolving Congress rather than waiting for a vote that would have likely gone against him. After issuing the presidential decree, he argued that the move would empower Ecuadorians by bringing forward elections.
