The measure is a response to the sometimes violent protests of recent times against rising fuel prices and increased living costs.
– I am determined to defend our capital and our country, Lasso said in a television broadcast on Friday.
The capital Quito is located in one of the three provinces where the state of emergency has now been announced.
In addition to calling in the armed forces, the president can, through the state of emergency, revoke civil rights and declare a curfew.
The protests are organized by the indigenous organization Conaie. To put pressure on the government, the protesters have since Monday, among other things, blocked roads throughout the country. More than 40 people have been injured as a result of clashes with security forces and at least 37 people have been arrested.
On Thursday, Lasso met with leaders of the indigenous peoples in an attempt to alleviate the dissatisfaction, but the discussions apparently yielded nothing.
Indigenous people make up over one million of Ecuador’s 17.7 million inhabitants.