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Ecuador could hold early elections on August 20

Ecuador could hold early elections on August 20

Ecuador could hold early legislative and presidential elections on August 20, the electoral court said Thursday, a day after the president William Lasso dissolve the National Assembly by decree and advance the elections scheduled for 2025.

Lasso invoked the call on Wednesday “cross death” of the Constitution, which allows the president to call early elections for both his office and the assembly under certain circumstances, even if the actions of the Legislature are blocking the functioning of the Government.

The embattled leader alluded to a serious political crisis and internal upheaval in Ecuador as reasons for the move, amid an impeachment trial by opposition politicians who accused him of ignoring warnings of embezzlement related to a contract at the state oil transport company Flopec.

Lasso has denied the allegations and has said the contract was signed before he took office in May 2021.

The president will remain in office and rule by decree until his successor and a new legislature are elected, in accordance with the Ecuadorian Constitution.

The president of the National Electoral Council, Diana Atamaint, told the local channel Teleamazonas that the vote would be set for Sunday, August 20 according to a preliminary schedule and in accordance with local laws, adding that the date must be approved by the full court.

If there is a second round to elect the president, it could be held on October 15, Atamaint said.

Opposition politicians hope that the Constitutional Court, Ecuador’s highest court, will quickly rule to block Lasso’s dissolution, which they have described as illegal.

The legislators of the National Assembly dissolved said they will abide by the court’s decision, even if it upholds the president’s actions.

“There is a fairly high probability that the decree will be declared unconstitutional and that the Assembly will return to its functions and return to the impeachment (of Lasso)”, said opposition politician Esteban Torres.

Those elected in the early elections would only be in office until the regular elections are held in 2025.

Source: Reuters

Source: Gestion

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