Ecuador's president declines to run in snap elections after he disbands National Assembly
Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso said Friday he will not seek reelection in the early elections prompted by his decision to dissolve the National Assembly two weeks ago. Lasso, who disbanded the assembly just when it appeared on the verge of ousting him in impeachment proceedings, announced his decision not to run in Aug. 20 balloting at a news conference surrounded by members of his Cabinet and family. “This has been the greatest honor of my life, but I love democracy way beyond the role of president,” Lasso said. "If my duty as president requires me to give up my position and protect democracy, then I will do so. Without fear and with a clear conscience.” Lasso, a conservative former banker, was elected in 2021 on a business-friendly platform and clashed from the start with the left-leaning majority coalition in the 137-member National Assembly. In May, lawmakers launched impeachment proceedings against him on allegations that he failed to intervene to end a faulty contract between the state-owned oil transport company and a private tanker company. Faced with likely removal from office on what he called frivolous charges, Lasso disbanded the National Assembly, calling it “the best possible decision,” giving Ecuadorians “the power to decide their future in the next elections.” Ecuador's constitution includes a provision that allows the president to disband the assembly during a political crisis, but then requires new elections for both the assembly and presidency. Mauricio Alarcón, an analyst with Ecuador's nongovernment organization Citizenship and Development Foundation, praised Lasso's decision to step aside, telling The Associated Press that the level of confidence in the president “had hit rock bottom.” An estimated 13.4 million Ecuadoreans will go to the polls in August to elect president, vice-president and 137 legislators. They will complete the current term of office, which end in May 2025. If no winner is declared in a first round, a second one is scheduled for Oct. 15. Read More Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide
2023-06-03 04:19
Republicans schedule 1st presidential debate for Aug. 23, but there's no guarantee Trump will attend
The first Republican presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle will be held Aug. 23, and candidates participating must pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee
2023-06-03 03:45
Trump, GOP Rivals Must Meet Polling, Donor Thresholds for August 23 Debate
Republican presidential candidates will need to meet polling and fundraising requirements and agree to back the eventual nominee
2023-06-03 02:46
YouTube will now allow 2020 election denialism content, in policy reversal
YouTube on Friday said it will no longer remove content that features false claims that the 2020 US presidential election was stolen, reversing a policy instituted two years ago amid a wave of false claims about the election.
2023-06-03 02:24
Poland's president proposes urgent amendments to law on Russian influence
Polish President Andrzej Duda says he is proposing urgent amendments to a law on Russian influence he signed this week that drew U.S. and European Union criticism
2023-06-03 01:52
Georgia probe of Trump expands to activities in other states -Washington Post
WASHINGTON A Georgia-based probe into whether former Republican President Donald Trump and others illegally sought to overturn his
2023-06-03 01:28
DeSantis is trying to convince Republicans the Trump years weren't all that great. Will they believe him?
Behind the scattershot criticism Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has levied at former President Donald Trump since entering the 2024 race is an unmistakable message to Republican voters: The Trump years weren't as great as you remember.
2023-06-02 23:59
Justice Department says it won't charge Pence over handling of classified documents
The Department of Justice has informed former Vice President Mike Pence’s legal team that it won't pursue criminal charges related to the discovery of classified documents at his Indiana home
2023-06-02 22:57
Casey DeSantis emerges as pivotal figure on 2024 campaign trail
By Nathan Layne LACONIA, New Hampshire When Casey DeSantis took to a New Hampshire stage on Thursday to
2023-06-02 18:16
How Turkey's president Erdogan has maintained a tight grip on power in the country
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan takes the oath of office and starts his third presidential term Saturday following his latest election win
2023-06-02 15:24
Kinnock Tells Starmer He Can Lead UK Alone, Without Coalition
Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock dismissed the chances of the party being forced into a coalition after the
2023-06-02 13:22
Woman interrupts DeSantis speech to claim her son’s murder was covered up in Florida
Gov Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign event in Manchester, New Hampshire was interrupted by a woman who claimed that her son’s murder had been covered up in Florida. The woman who made the accusation was led out of the facility where the rally was being held. As she was walking out of the event, the woman threw down a DeSantis hat she was holding and vowed to replace with a hat representing former President Donald Trump. Mr DeSantis made his first swing through the Granite State on Thursday, making headlines at an earlier stop for snapping at a reporter who asked him why he hadn’t taken questions from voters at the preceding event. There were several Trump supporters at the DeSantis event in Manchester in red shirts with the words “Union Carpenters for President Trump 2024” on them. Mr DeSantis trailed Mr Trump by more than 20 points in a mid-May poll of New Hampshire, the first primary state on the Republican calendar in 2024. Read More Ivanka and Jared split over attending Trump 2024 launch – follow live Why was Donald Trump impeached twice during his first term? Four big lies Trump told during his 2024 presidential announcement
2023-06-02 09:50