Ecuador’s Constitutional Court this Thursday unanimously dismissed lawsuits filed against President Guillermo Lasso’s decision to dissolve Congress while he was arguing his dismissal for an alleged corruption case.
The Supreme Ecuadorian Court issued six rulings, in which it resolved to “reject claims of unconstitutionality”, as well as “request that the Court adopt precautionary measures to provisionally suspend the effects of the controversial decree,” said the body in a statement.
With this, Lasso’s decision announced on Wednesday remains firm and opens the door for early general elections to complete the four-year term.
The President, who will take office in May 2021, celebrated through his Twitter account. “This Court affirms my decision concerning the Constitution of the Republic,” he wrote.
Virgilio Saquisela, now former president of Congress, and other former lawmakers filed unconstitutional lawsuits against Lasso’s decision to dissolve the National Assembly.
The court said it “does not have the competence to rule on the verification and motivations caused by the serious political crisis and internal commotion” and that “neither does any other judicial authority in the country.”
Saquisela warned that he would respect any decision of the court, which would be in charge of giving the green light on economic matters or rejecting decree-laws issued by the executive, from now until elections are held.
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly had said on Wednesday, “We are not bound by any post.”
By announcing the so-called “cross death”, Lasso avoided a political trial, which the opposition publicized against him for an alleged crime of embezzlement in oil transportation contracts.
Following the dissolution of the Congress, the Council of National Electors (CNE) must hold new elections within a maximum period of three months. Lasso may run again as a candidate.
