This is precisely what happened, as we have already noted, in Paraguay in 2012 with the two-day quickie impeachment of Fernando Lugo, and in Ecuador in 1997 with the removal of Abdalá Bucaram on bogus grounds of mental incapacity. In these cases, impeachment was weaponized-the leaders of congress used it to remove a president they didn't like.
In "How Democracies Die," Steven Levitsky discusses the manipulation of impeachment processes in Latin America, highlighting specific instances in Paraguay and Ecuador. In 2012, Fernando Lugo faced a swift impeachment that lasted only two days, while in 1997, Abdalá Bucaram was dismissed on questionable claims regarding his mental health. These cases illustrate how political leaders can exploit impeachment as a tool to eliminate presidents who are politically unfavorable to them.
Levitsky argues that these examples demonstrate a dangerous trend where the impeachment mechanism, intended for accountability, is distorted to serve partisan interests. This manipulation undermines democratic principles and can lead to instability, as the process is co-opted for political gain rather than legitimate governance concerns.
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