Ecuador Electoral Council discusses new elections after president dissolved congress

Ecuadoran President Guillermo Lasso issued a decree on Wednesday to dissolve the country's legislature, a day after the opposition-led body opened impeachment proceedings over his alleged corruption. The decree released by the unpopular conservative president's office states that Lasso is dissolving the unicameral National Assembly "due to a vital political crisis and national commotion."In dissolving congress, Lasso called on the National Electoral Council (CNE) to convene new elections.

It is the first time a president in Ecuador has dissolved the legislature. By law, within seven days of publication of the decree, the CNE must convene to call new presidential and legislative elections to finish out the current term, which ends in 2025.The elections must occur within 90 days, and Lasso, 67, may run for the presidency again.