La muerte cruzada en Ecuador: ¿mecanismo de equilibrio o herramienta de poder?.

Abstract

The objective of this study is to examine the functioning of the government use of the crossfire death (death cross) in Ecuador as an instrument of power or balance, through extensive documentary analysis of normative frameworks and legal precedents within the constitutional framework and the practical dynamics that limit or facilitate the anticipatory convening of decision-making bodies. The circumstances in which the “death cross” can help stabilize political institutions during a governance crisis will be determined, but also whether it has the potential to alter political competition and, therefore, human rights violations. To achieve this, a qualitative methodological approach will be employed through paradigmatic cases where the constructs necessary in terms of legitimacy, administrative efficiency, transparency, and available responses to different forms of institutional pathology are proposed through historical comparison. The findings show normative responsibility is safeguarded by the Rules of Procedure, court monitoring, and sufficient procedural guarantees to secure predictability and accountability. The study provides a perspective on how the three types of overreach need to be countered by political leaders, legal operators, and social actors trying to maintain a balance of power without sacrificing fundamental rights and without losing public trust.