Lasso's mandate in Ecuador could be extended until December

Quito, Sep 2 (RHC) The annulment of the elections abroad modified the electoral calendar in Ecuador and President Guillermo Lasso could be in power longer than expected, at least until December, local media warned today.

The decision of the National Electoral Council -CNE-, to repeat in the overseas constituencies the votes to elect legislative representatives due to failures in the telematic voting, will postpone the beginning of the new National Assembly (parliament), warned the digital portal Primicias.

The initial schedule foreseen was that in October the elected parliamentarians would take office and on November 30 they would be in charge of handing over the presidential sash to the new president, elected in the ballot of October 15.

According to Radio La Calle, the most recent official calendar published by the CNE does not specify the day on which Lasso must leave the Carondelet Palace, the seat of the Executive, although the legal deadlines indicate that the end of his term of office would be during the Christmas month.

This depends on the time of the vote count for the legislative elections abroad, which will be carried out in person on October 15, the same day of the second round.

The next elected president will only be in power until May 2025, that is to say, only one year and a few months to complete the current period of government that Lasso himself interrupted with the application of the cross death decree.

With this decision, adopted last May 17, the ruler brought forward the end of his term of office and at the same time dissolved the Assembly, which at that time was about to vote on his possible impeachment as a consequence of an impeachment trial for embezzlement.

Meanwhile, Ecuadorians expect the departure of the current president, who has a disapproval of more than 90 percent of the population, according to the most recent survey of Perfiles de Opinión.Analysts affirm that Lasso will leave the country with an increase in insecurity and organized crime, a deterioration of health and education, low social investment, a millionaire debt, as well as accusations of corruption and even accusations of possible links with drug trafficking (Source: Prensa Latina).