QUITO – Ecuadorean President Guillermo Lasso on Wednesday justified the dissolution of the assembly, a move he hopes will set a precedent in the South American nation that the legislature should not try to obstruct the administration.
In a report on his management of the country, the 67-year-old president stressed that the action included shortening his mandate and instructing the Andean nation to hold early elections, which the National Electoral Council has set for August 20. was determined.
For Lasso, the dissolution of the legislature last week is a “milestone” so that a president is not again at the mercy of a body “which spends its time plotting and preventing the government from moving forward on the country’s development agenda”. does”.
For the first time since the return of democracy in 1978, an Ecuadorian president presented his work report in a public auditorium, and not in front of legislators in the Assembly, as was the tradition.
Lasso pointed out that Ecuador has been able to get out of deep crises and choose democracy “as the most convenient system to resolve our differences”, and urged the political class to reach a national agreement as soon as possible through his speech. Benefitted. As Ecuadorians head to new elections.
Faced with this unusual electoral scenario, the president told Ecuadorians, “When you vote, remember that those who steal the country’s money through corruption do not return.”
With the dissolution of the Lasso Assembly, he endured a political trial that sought his removal for alleged embezzlement of public funds. This left him to rule through decisions on administrative and economic issues that must be approved by the Constitutional Court.
Regarding his economic management, the President highlighted that in two years he managed to reduce the fiscal deficit from more than $7,000 million to less than $2,000 million and the external debt from more than $66,000 million to about $55,000 million. while during the time he assured that his government has allocated 15.276 million dollars in education, health, housing and social programs, which is the highest amount ever invested in this sector – as he said – in Ecuador.
Universidad Andina analyst and academic, Hernán Reyes, said that politically the management of the lasso was “the weakest and most questionable part of the government in these two years,” and believed that the president did not understand that he needed to build bridges. Had and lasting relationship with other political forces.
Reyes also pointed out in telephone statements to The Associated Press that Lasso’s mandate is “disastrous as a result of a permanent government crisis” due to attacks by organized crime and inaction in the face of problems in areas such as health, education and transportation…
Lasso, a former right-wing banker, begins his term in May 2021 for a four-year term. After reporting to the nation, the President will travel to the United States to undergo surgery.
