Alfredo Palacio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alfredo Palacio
OSP
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Palacio in 2005
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| 44th President of Ecuador | |
| In office 20 April 2005 – 15 January 2007 |
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| Vice President | Alejandro Serrano |
| Preceded by | Lucio Gutiérrez |
| Succeeded by | Rafael Correa |
| 44th Vice President of Ecuador | |
| In office 15 January 2003 – 20 April 2005 |
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| President | Lucio Gutiérrez |
| Preceded by | Pedro Pinto Rubianes |
| Succeeded by | Alejandro Serrano |
| Minister of Health | |
| In office 11 November 1994 – 10 August 1996 |
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| President | Sixto Durán Ballén |
| Preceded by | Patricio Abad |
| Succeeded by | Marcelo Cruz |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Luis Alfredo Palacio González
22 January 1939 Guayaquil, Ecuador |
| Died | 22 May 2025 (aged 86) Guayaquil, Ecuador |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse | María Beatriz Paret |
| Parent |
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| Alma mater | Case Western Reserve University |
| Medical career | |
| Profession | Physician |
| Field | Cardiology |
| Institutions | University of Guayaquil |
| Awards | Order of the Sun of Peru (Grand Cross) |
Luis Alfredo Palacio González (born January 22, 1939 – died May 22, 2025) was a doctor and politician from Ecuador. He served as the 44th president of Ecuador from 2005 to 2007. Before becoming president, he was the vice president under President Lucio Gutiérrez. He became president after the Ecuadorian Congress removed Gutiérrez from power. Palacio also worked as the Minister of Health from 1994 to 1996.
Contents
Early Life and Medical Career
Alfredo Palacio was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on January 22, 1939. His father, Alfredo Palacio Moreno, was a sculptor.
He studied medicine at the University of Guayaquil, earning his degree in 1967. He then moved to the United States for more medical training. From 1969 to 1972, he completed his medical residency at Case Western Reserve University. He also specialized in heart diseases (cardiology) at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.
Palacio worked at several hospitals in the United States. He was a member of many scientific and medical groups. In 1980, he started the Alfredo Palacio National Institute of Cardiology (INCAP) in Guayaquil. He also taught cardiology at the University of Guayaquil starting in 1989.
Political Career
Alfredo Palacio was an independent politician, meaning he did not belong to any specific political party.
Minister of Health (1994–1996)
In 1994, President Sixto Durán Ballén chose Palacio to be the Minister of Public Health. He started this role on November 11, 1994.
As Minister, Palacio faced big health challenges in Ecuador. There were outbreaks of diseases like malaria and cholera. During the Cenepa War in 1995, he helped organize the emergency health system. This work earned him special recognition from the military. He believed that Ecuador's health system should not be privately owned.
Vice President of Ecuador (2003–2005)
In 2002, Palacio was chosen to run as the vice president alongside Lucio Gutiérrez in the presidential election. They won the election, and Palacio became Vice President of Ecuador on January 15, 2003.
Soon after taking office, Palacio and President Gutiérrez had disagreements. Palacio wanted to focus on social programs, like creating a universal health insurance plan. However, Gutiérrez's policies moved in a different direction. These differences caused tension between the two leaders.
Presidency (2005–2007)
Ecuador faced a difficult time with many protests against President Gutiérrez's government. In December 2004, Gutiérrez tried to change the Supreme Court, which many people thought was unfair. This led to large protests in Quito in early 2005.
On April 19, 2005, a protest in Quito turned violent, with people getting hurt and one person dying. Palacio strongly spoke out against this violence. The next day, members of Congress removed Lucio Gutiérrez from his position as president. The military also announced they no longer supported Gutiérrez.
Minutes later, Alfredo Palacio was sworn in as the new President of Ecuador. He said that the people had ended "dictatorship, immorality, arrogance, terror, and fear." He promised to rebuild the country. His first actions included closing the country's borders to prevent some politicians from leaving. He also announced plans to create a new Constitutional Assembly to review the country's laws.
From the start, Palacio did not have strong support from political parties. He often faced opposition from major political groups.
On May 5, 2005, Congress chose Alejandro Serrano to be the new Vice President, as Palacio had suggested.
In August 2005, his Minister of Economy, Rafael Correa, resigned. Correa had different ideas about the economy, especially regarding oil money and foreign debt. Correa later won the 2006 presidential election and became president after Palacio on January 15, 2007.
In foreign policy, Palacio was critical of Colombia's efforts to spray crops near the border. He did not want Ecuador to be involved in these actions, which caused some distance from the United States government.
Palacio left office with an approval rating of 29%. After his presidency, he returned to his hometown of Guayaquil. He stopped being involved in politics and went back to working as a cardiologist. He also helped found the Faculty of Medicine at the Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo (UEES), where he taught.
Personal Life
Alfredo Palacio was married to María Beatriz Paret. They had four children together.
Palacio passed away in Guayaquil on May 22, 2025, at the age of 86. The government of Ecuador declared two days of national mourning. He was buried in the Parque de la Paz cemetery in Daule.
Honors
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun of Peru (2008)
- National Order of Merit (Ecuador)
- Medal for Atahualpa Merit in the rank of Commander (Ecuador)
See also
In Spanish: Alfredo Palacio para niños
- List of Case Western people
- Cesar Palacio, his cousin
- Emilio Palacio, his brother
