President Guillermo Lasso of Ecuador disbanded the country’s Opposition-led National Assembly on Wednesday, a drastic move as the Right-leaning leader faced impeachment proceedings over accusations of embezzlement.

The constitutional measure, never before used, allows the President to rule by decree until new elections can be held, marking a moment of extraordinary political turbulence for a country of 18 million already in turmoil.

Ecuador has long been a relatively safe haven in the region, but in recent years it has seen rising violence and a skyrocketing homicide rate as increasingly powerful narco-trafficking groups fight for territory.

Opposition lawmakers accused Lasso of turning a blind eye to irregularities and embezzlement in a contract between a state-run shipping company and an oil tanker company that wasn’t delivering on its promises — allegations first made in media reports. The country’s constitutional court later approved a charge of embezzlement against the President but denied two charges of bribery.

Last week, the National Assembly voted to commence impeachment hearings, but all proceedings were brought to a halt once Lasso dissolved Congress. The President repeatedly denied the charges.

New York Times News Service