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What is it about? | President Lasso, by Executive Decree 741, dissolved the Assembly (Legislature) and requested the call for elections to renew the Executive and Legislature for the remainder of the respective periods (i.e., until May 2025). |
What are the legal basis?
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The Dissolution of the Assembly and early elections (aka Muerte cruzada) is provided for by art. 148 of the 2008 Constitution, which allows the President of Ecuador to dismiss the Assembly, remain temporarily in office and call for early elections. The foregoing, in accordance with art. 50 of Ley Orgánica de la Función Legislativa (Legislative Act), as well as interpretation by the Constitutional Court No. 002-10-SIC-CC of September 9th, 2010. |
How does it work? | The members of the National Assembly were terminated effective immediately upon the enactment of Decree 741, but are eligible to run for re-election; the President remains in office and may issue economic emergency executive decrees, controlled by the Constitutional Court, which may be repealed by the new Assembly. In fact, the President has already enacted Decree No. 742 with the tax reform he had announced and proposed to increase deductible expenses and benefit certain activities. The laws thus enacted will be effective immediately, once the constitutional review has been passed. The President may also be a candidate in these early elections. |
Is anything else required?
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Nothing. The President may dismiss the Assembly for three causes pursuant to the Constitution and in this case, of “serious political crisis and internal disturbance”, according to it and to articles 144 subsection 6 and 151 of Ley Orgánica de Garantías Jurisdiccionales y Control Constitucional (Jurisdictional Guarantees and Constitutional Scrutiny Act), the prior favorable opinion of the Constitutional Court is not necessary. |
What is the timetable?
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Contested? | Yes, two legal challenges have been reportedly filed before the Constitutional Court, alleging lack of internal disturbance (conmoción) as required in the motivation invoked by the President. |
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