“Cross death”: What is the measure applied by the president of Ecuador to close Congress

The president of Ecuador, William Lassodecided to sign Executive Decree 741 with the aim of dissolving the National Assembly.

Through his Twitter account and a televised message with his ministers, he indicated that he uses the “cross death” in order to dissolve Congress and call elections.

“I have requested the National Electoral Council to immediately call legislative and presidential elections for the rest of the respective periods. This is a democratic decision, not only because it is constitutional, but also because it returns to the Ecuadorian people the power to decide their future in the next elections. This is the best decision possible.” he detailed in his televised message.

What does the “cross death” say?

A few days ago, the constitutional lawyer José Chalco told CNN that Lasso could apply the “cross death” with these three grounds:

• If the National Assembly takes constitutional powers that do not correspond to it. It is the Constitutional Court that confirms said interference.
• If unjustifiably and repeatedly the Assembly obstructs with the national development plan.
• And if there is, in the president’s opinion, a serious political crisis and commotion.

For his part, Lasso Mendoza signed decree 741 and article 1 justifies the “serious internal shock” who lives in the country In article 2, it calls for elections to renew the authorities of the Executive and Legislative branches.

And in article 3, the Assembly is ordered not to continue with its functions, nor with the contracts of the legislative personnel.

The measure is a legal figure protected by the Ecuadorian Constitution, which allows the powers to have the power to dissolve only once in the first three years of management.

In addition, It is the first time that a president makes use of this lawso now Lasso Mendoza will govern through decree laws, while the National Electoral Council has seven days to announce the next dates of the elections.