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El presidente Guillermo Lasso, acusado de corrupción por el Congreso y amenazado de destitución, decretó este miércoles 17 de mayo la disolución del legislativo. La decisión obliga a realizar elecciones generales anticipadas.
El mandatario de derecha, señalado por la oposición legislativa de presunta corrupción en contratos de transporte de petróleo, ordenó “disolver la Asamblea Nacional por grave crisis política y conmoción interna”, según el documento difundido por la presidencia.
“Este miércoles 17 de mayo, el Presidente de la República, Guillermo Lasso, firmó el Decreto Ejecutivo No. 741, mediante el cual aplicó el artículo 148 de la Constitución de la República que le otorga la facultad de disolver la Asamblea Nacional por grave crisis política y conmoción interna”, explica el documento.
Este decreto ley será remitido a la Corte Constitucional para su dictamen. “Esta es la mejor decisión posible que nos abre el camino a recuperar la esperanza, la tranquilidad y permitirá al gobierno centrar todos sus esfuerzos en atender las necesidades de las familias ecuatorianas”, concluye.
El gobernante se presentó el martes ante el Congreso para defenderse de las acusaciones por supuesto peculado. Según las denuncias, Lasso decidió continuar con un contrato que fue firmado antes de que llegara a la presidencia, pese a que había informes de que era “lesivo para el Estado”.
La sede del Congreso amaneció bajo resguardo militar. En tanto, el palacio de gobierno en el centro histórico de Quito estaba custodiado por un grupo de uniformados, constataron periodistas de la AFP.
Esta es la primera vez que un mandatario aplica la denominada “muerte cruzada”, que puede ser ejercida una sola vez durante los tres primeros años del mandato. “Las fuerzas armadas y la policía nacional mantienen y mantendrán inalterable su posición de absoluto respeto a la Constitución”, expresó el general Nelson Proaño, jefe del comando conjunto de las fuerzas armadas ecuatorianas, en un video difundido por el Ministerio de Defensa.
En junio pasado el Parlamento había intentado destituir a Lasso en medio de violentas protestas indígenas contra el alto costo de vida, pero faltaron 12 votos para sacarlo del poder.
English Version
President Guillermo Lasso, accused of corruption by Congress and threatened with dismissal, decreed this Wednesday, May 17, the dissolution of the legislature. The decision forces early general elections to be held.
The right-wing president, pointed out by the legislative opposition for alleged corruption in oil transportation contracts, ordered "to dissolve the National Assembly due to a serious political crisis and internal commotion," according to the document released by the presidency.
“This Wednesday, May 17, the President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso, signed Executive Decree No. 741, through which he applied article 148 of the Constitution of the Republic that grants him the power to dissolve the National Assembly due to serious crisis politics and internal commotion”, the document explains.
This decree law will be sent to the Constitutional Court for its ruling. "This is the best possible decision that opens the way for us to regain hope, tranquility and will allow the government to focus all its efforts on meeting the needs of Ecuadorian families," he concludes.
Violence and drug trafficking
Amid rising drug-related violence and discontent over the cost of living, the dissolution of Congress may mean the end of the right-wing government. The Constitution establishes that within a maximum period of seven days after the publication of the dissolution decree, legislative and presidential elections will be called to complete the current four-year term that began in May 2021 and ends in 2025.
The ruler appeared before Congress on Tuesday to defend himself against the accusations of alleged embezzlement. According to the complaints, Lasso decided to continue with a contract that was signed before he became president, despite reports that he was "harmful to the State."
Losses of more than 6 million dollars
The contract for the transportation of crude oil with the international group Amazonas Tanker left losses of more than 6 million dollars. The president has not been prosecuted for any crime in ordinary justice. For this reason, he assured that he filed a complaint with the Prosecutor's Office in 2022 to investigate the case.
The headquarters of the Congress woke up under military protection. Meanwhile, the government palace in the historic center of Quito was guarded by a group of uniformed men, AFP journalists verified.
This is the first time that a president applies the so-called "cross death", which can be exercised only once during the first three years of the mandate. "The armed forces and the national police maintain and will maintain their position of absolute respect for the Constitution unalterable," said General Nelson Proaño, head of the joint command of the Ecuadorian armed forces, in a video released by the Ministry of Defense.
Parliament had tried last June to remove Lasso amid violent indigenous protests against the high cost of living, but fell short of 12 votes to remove him from power.
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