President Guillermo Lasso constitutionally activated the so-called death by the cross, that is, the dissolution of the National Assembly and the calling of elections for the remainder of the current presidential term (until May 2025).

Montecristi’s hyper-presidentialist constitution, tailored to the taste of then-President Correa, imposes only two limits on the president’s power to invoke crucifixion: it must be carried out in the first three years of government and can only be carried out once (during the presidential term). Two of the three grounds do not require the prior consent of the Constitutional Court.

The country’s risk will be high for “several years”, after the cross death and election processes

The largest opposition party, correísmo (Revolución Ciudadana), has been pushing for the use of this mechanism for several weeks, going so far as to issue a statement. However, after it was announced, some of its spokespeople said (wrongly) that the decision was “illegal” or “unconstitutional”. However, apparently its most authoritative spokesman, former member of Parliament and former member of Ronny Aleaga, ruled that the movement agrees with this measure and will compete in the elections.

Calling for elections must be done within seven days of the dissolution decision, and elections will be held within three months. If someone wins the first round, they could take office within four months; if a second election round is needed (most likely), it would take place within six months.

What is the effect of the cross of death for me as a citizen?: This is what our columnists say

Until then, the president can govern by decree of the law on economic urgency (which must be confirmed by the Constitutional Court). He has already issued the first, a tax reform that somewhat reverses the progressive tax reform passed in November 2021 (the only significant legislative reform passed in his term). It will also reduce tax revenues in circumstances where the international price of oil has fallen and begin to increase foreign debt servicing.

The cross of death enables a democratic solution to the serious institutional crisis that the country is experiencing.

The possibility of submitting other decree laws, for example on labor reform and free zones, is mentioned. It is possible that the Constitutional Court will abolish some measures if it judges that they violate acquired constitutional rights. The new assembly that will be elected can cancel any reform approved during this transitional period.

The cross of death enables a democratic solution to the serious institutional crisis that the country is experiencing. With the opening of the new electoral process, certain tensions and threats of mobilizations and strikes disappear, because political and social forces will focus on the electoral competition.

However, the period also creates uncertainty and may put private sector investment (domestic and foreign) on hold until the next president is determined. If a candidate who is not “market friendly” wins, it could continue to increase country risk and limit access to external financing (IMF and multilateral banks), in circumstances where debt servicing will increase. (OR)