In Ecuador, the president’s decision to dissolve congress and rule by decree for up to six months before early general elections will face institutional opposition and likely lead to disruptive (even if short-lived) protests. On May 17, Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the opposition-led National Assembly, where he faced a looming impeachment vote, and announced he will rule by decree for the next six months until new elections were held. In doing so, Lasso invoked Article 148 in Ecuador’s constitution, which allows the president to disband the legislature, call snap elections and assume executive authority in the interim. Lasso justified his decision by claiming the National Assembly’s ongoing effort to impeach him had caused ”a serious political crisis and internal commotion.” The decree went into effect immediately, though several legislators filed petitions with the Constitutional Court calling the use of Article 148 as unconstitutional, which select members of the court will…