Muerte cruzada facts for kids

Muerte cruzada (pronounced: MWER-teh krew-SAH-dah) is a special rule in the Ecuadorian Constitution. It's like a "mutual death" for the government. This rule lets either the President or the National Assembly (which is like the country's parliament) remove the other from power. But there's a big catch: if one branch uses this power, it also puts its own job up for a vote!

This means that if the President dissolves the National Assembly, new elections are called for both the President and the Assembly. And if the National Assembly removes the President, new elections are also called for both the President and the Assembly. The people then vote for new leaders to finish the current term.

The idea behind muerte cruzada is to stop long periods where the government can't agree or get things done. It's a way to break political deadlocks. The Constitutional Court of Ecuador has called it a "checks-and-balances tool." This means it helps make sure no single part of the government becomes too powerful.

How Muerte Cruzada Works

The Ecuadorian Constitution has two main parts that explain muerte cruzada:

What the President Can Do

Article 148 says the President can dissolve the National Assembly. This can happen if the Assembly tries to do things outside its powers, or if it keeps stopping the President's plans without good reason. It can also happen during a serious political crisis or unrest in the country. The President can only use this power once during the first three years of their term.

If the President dissolves the Assembly, new elections for both the President and the Assembly must be held very quickly, usually within seven days of the announcement. The new leaders then serve out the rest of the original four-year term.

What the National Assembly Can Do

Article 130 explains how the National Assembly can remove the President. This can happen if the President tries to do things outside their powers, or during a serious political crisis or unrest. To remove the President, at least two-thirds of the Assembly members (92 out of 137) must vote for it.

If the President is removed, the Vice-President takes over for a short time. Then, just like when the President dissolves the Assembly, new elections for both the President and the Assembly must be held quickly. The new leaders will finish the current term. The Assembly can only use this power once during its three-year term.

Why Muerte Cruzada Exists

This special rule was added to Ecuador's Constitution to prevent problems that happened in the past. Before muerte cruzada, Ecuador often had long periods of political trouble where the President and the Assembly couldn't work together. This new rule is meant to force a quick solution by letting the people decide who should lead.

Some people call it a "nuclear option" because it's such a powerful tool. Others see it as a way for the people to have a direct say in who governs them, almost like a special vote on the President's leadership.

When Muerte Cruzada Was Used

The muerte cruzada rule was used for the first time on May 17, 2023. President Guillermo Lasso activated it. This happened because the National Assembly was trying to remove him from office due to serious accusations.

President Lasso said he used the rule because of a "severe political crisis and domestic upheaval." As a result, the process to remove him was stopped. Instead, special elections for both the President and the Assembly were held in 2023, earlier than their planned date in 2025. President Lasso announced that he would not run for re-election in these special elections.

See also

• In Spanish: Muerte cruzada para niños