President Guillermo Lasso has decided to dissolve the Assembly as a constitutional response to the political crisis and internal turmoil that Ecuador is experiencing.
The President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso Mendoza, today signed Executive Decree No. 741, in accordance with Article 148 of the Republic’s Constitution, which grants him the power to dissolve the National Assembly «in case of severe political crisis and internal turmoil.»
The Head of State assured that the decision is aimed to «provide a constitutional solution to the political crisis and internal turmoil that Ecuador is enduring and to return to the Ecuadorian people the power to decide their future in the upcoming elections.»
According to Article 148 of the Ecuadorian Constitution, «the President of the Republic may dissolve the National Assembly when, in his judgment, it has usurped functions that do not constitutionally pertain to it, after a favorable ruling from the Constitutional Court; or if it repeatedly and unjustifiably obstructs the execution of the National Development Plan, or in the event of a severe political crisis and internal turmoil.»
This is «a new moment to build together a better future for Ecuador (…) It is not possible to move forward, to solve the problems of Ecuadorian families, to face the challenges posed by insecurity and terrorism, with an Assembly whose political project is to destabilize the Government, democracy, and the State,» he stated.
Once the decree is published, the National Electoral Council has a maximum period of seven days, according to the Constitution of the Republic, to convene legislative and presidential elections on the same date for the remainder of their respective terms.
Meanwhile, until a new National Assembly is installed, President Guillermo Lasso may, after a favorable ruling from the Constitutional Court, issue emergency economic decrees-law.
Thus, the first Decree signed as an Economic Emergency Law is the Strengthening of the Family Economy Law. With this law, the National Government seeks to strengthen the economy of 460,000 Ecuadorian families so that approximately 200 million US dollars can be returned to their households. This decree-law was sent to the Constitutional Court for its opinion.
The Government clarified that all public services will continue to operate normally. The Armed Forces and the National Police will ensure security throughout the Ecuadorian territory.