Ecuador - May 2023

In a move to prevent his separation from office in impeachment proceedings that were scheduled for 16 May, President Guillermo Lasso dissolved Congress by invoking a constitutional provision known as “cross-death”. It means that the electoral authority will have to call for both congressional and presidential elections, which effectively suspends the impeachment proceedings against Lasso with regard to corruption allegations. Weeks later, on 2 June, Lasso stated that he will not run for reelection in the special presidential elections that will be held in August. 

Sources: El Pais, El Universo

President Lasso has issued an executive decree that authorizes the armed forces to participate in operations against cartels, in coordination with national police, to address the “terrorist threat” that organized crime poses. The decree follows a resolution by the country’s security council, in which it found that gangs use terrorist tactics and recommended that the executive address such threats through armed action. Analysts and human rights experts fear that the measure will lead to abuses and a disproportionate use of force. 

Sources: Cable News Network Espanol, El Pais