On 17 May, President Guillermo Lasso dissolved Ecuador’s National Assembly using a constitutional rule known as muerte cruzada (“mutual death”). Lasso was facing an impending impeachment vote over alleged corruption that he was likely to have lost. In a statement, the military pledged to support the embattled President, affirming the constitutionality of Lasso’s move and warning against those who pledged to protest the move, stating that it “won’t accept any attempt to alter the constitutional order through violence.” Snap elections for both the Presidency and the National Assembly are now required to be held within three months. Though President Lasso can now rule by decree for up to six months.
Recent Events
- President of the National Electoral Council, Diana Atamaint, said that its office will set the date for the next elections in no more than seven days. She anticipated that Ecuadorians would go to the polls to elect a new president and a new Assembly in no more than 90 days.
- Lasso immediately signed an order to lower income taxes to help placate the population.
- Activists from the United Workers Front (Frente Unitario de Trabajadores, FUT) are planning potential protests pending the Constitutional Court's decision.
- CONAIE, Ecuador's largest confederation of indigenous groups, has warned that it would stage “an indefinite national uprising.”
- Ecuadorian security forces have established a protective posture around key government buildings in Quito in anticipation of unrest.
Global Guardian expects serious protests in Quito and other urban centers with the potential for clashes between indigenous and leftwing demonstrators and security forces. We expect severe disruptions to travel in the form of roadblocks on major highways. Ecuador is also in the midst of a crime wave driven by drug traffickers, with its homicide rate surpassing the official rates in Colombia and Mexico, exceeding 25 per 100,000 people. During this tumultuous political transition period, gang violence and crime overall are expected to increase.
Recommendations
- Avoid all non-essential travel to Ecuador.
- For essential travel, exercise increased caution around government buildings.
- Global Guardian recommends using secure transport and vetted personnel with an understanding of the local situation.
- We recommend real-time intelligence monitoring to safeguard assets and personnel located in Ecuador.
Support
Global Guardian is closely monitoring the situation and can support clients who need assistance with local teams in the area to provide:
- Safe transport and relocation
- Ground intelligence reports
- Ground evacuation coordination
Click below to contact Global Guardian's 24/7 Operations Center or call us directly at +1 (703) 566-9463.
