Early presidential and parliamentary elections in Ecuador will be held on Sunday, August 20, the national electoral commission announced on Wednesday after the president dissolved parliament. Guillermo Lassowho accused the body of “abuse of power”.

face me trial and possible removal from office at the initiative of the left, which had a majority in parliament, Mr. Lasso last week decided to use the provision of the Constitution, known as “mutual death”.that is, dissolve parliament and call early simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections.

“I put an end to the political conflict that plunged the country into a crisis that deepened over time,” ending a “long chapter” of attempting to “overthrow institutions and abuse power,” Mr. Lasso said yesterday in Quito, summing up the second year of his presidency.

The Electoral Court (CNE) approved holding early elections on 20 August and, if a second round of presidential elections is required, on 15 October.

It is not yet clear if President Lasso, who is eligible under the Constitution, intends to run before completing his four-year term, which runs until 2025.

The parliamentarians who will be elected in August, as well as the new president, they will not start a new term, but will complete the already ongoing national delegation, i.e. will serve until 2025, according to the Constitution.

“My decisions have shown that I am indeed ready to relinquish power if necessary, above all to protect democracy in Ecuador,” said Mr. Lasso, who is accused by the opposition of turning a blind eye to the misuse of public money. State contract for the transportation of oil.

MPs accuse him of knowing the contract was damaging to society and not intervening to terminate it after he took office in May 2021.

Ecuador went through a period severe political instability from 1997 to 2005a period in which three presidents were overthrown by popular uprisings, and in recent years he has faced a security crisis, a wave of violence linked to a conflict between drug trafficking gangs.

unpopular

“We are going through a difficult period, but we will continue to fight vigorously against the mafia, which wants to destroy society,” assured the 67-year-old former banker Lasso. “We cannot allow organized crime (…) to dominate Ecuador with the connivance of politicians who betray the country or bad government officials,” added the conservative head of state.

He also emphasized that during the two years of his tenure, the police seized a record 420 tons of drugs.

The dissolution of parliament, at least so far, has not sparked protests or street tensions, as polls show that both President Lasso and the parliamentarians are highly unpopular.

In the absence of a parliament, the president rules by decree, which is subject to approval only by the Constitutional Court.

According to APE-MPE, AFP and Reuters.