Jamil Mahuad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jamil Mahuad
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Mahuad in 2020
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| 41st President of Ecuador | |
| In office 10 August 1998 – 21 January 2000 |
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| Vice President | Gustavo Noboa |
| Preceded by | Fabián Alarcón |
| Succeeded by | Gustavo Noboa |
| 17th Metropolitan Mayor of Quito | |
| In office 10 August 1992 – 10 August 1998 |
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| Preceded by | Rodrigo Paz |
| Succeeded by | Roque Sevilla |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jorge Jamil Mahuad Witt
29 July 1949 Loja, Ecuador |
| Political party | Popular Democracy |
| Spouse |
Tatiana Calderón
(m. 1971) |
| Children | Paola Mahuad Calderón |
| Alma mater | Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador |
Jorge Jamil Mahuad Witt was born on July 29, 1949. He is an Ecuadorian lawyer and former politician. He served as the 41st president of Ecuador from 1998 to 2000. Before becoming president, he was the 17th Mayor of Quito from 1992 to 1998.
During his time as president, Mahuad signed an important peace agreement with Peru. This agreement helped to solve long-standing border disagreements between the two countries. However, his presidency also faced a big economic challenge.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jamil Mahuad was born in Loja, Ecuador. His family background includes both German and Lebanese heritage.
He studied law at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. Later, he continued his studies at Harvard University in the United States. There, he earned a degree in public administration.
Becoming a Leader
Mahuad first entered politics in 1988. He ran for president but did not win that election. However, he continued his political career.
In 1992, he was elected as the Mayor of Quito. Quito is the capital city of Ecuador. He served as mayor for six years, until 1998.
Presidential Election
In 1998, Jamil Mahuad ran for president again. He won the election by a very small number of votes. His opponent was Álvaro Noboa, who was a very wealthy businessman.
Noboa asked for the votes to be counted again. However, the election officials did not allow a recount. Mahuad then officially became the president.
Key Moments as President
One of the most important things Mahuad did as president was to sign a peace agreement. This agreement was with the neighboring country of Peru. For many years, Ecuador and Peru had disagreements about their border.
On October 26, 1998, Mahuad signed a historic peace treaty. This treaty finally settled the border disputes. It was a big step towards peace and cooperation between the two nations.
Economic Challenges
During Mahuad's presidency, Ecuador faced a serious economic crisis. This crisis was partly caused by a financial crisis that had happened in Asia the year before. Many people in Ecuador were struggling.
To try and fix the economy, Mahuad made a big decision. He decided to change Ecuador's money system to the US dollar. This process is called "dollarization." This meant that the Ecuadorian currency, the sucre, would no longer be used.
This decision caused a lot of anger and protests across the country. Many people felt that it made their lives harder. Public support for President Mahuad decreased a lot.
End of Presidency
Because of the economic problems and the protests, Mahuad's time as president came to an end. In January 2000, there were large demonstrations by indigenous groups in Ecuador. Some parts of the military also joined the protests.
Mahuad was forced to leave his position as president. This event is known as a coup d'état. After he left office, his vice president, Gustavo Noboa, became the new president. This followed the rules of the country's constitution.
After the Presidency
After leaving the presidency, Jamil Mahuad continued to be involved in international discussions. He has worked as a senior advisor for a group called CMI International Group. This group is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States.
See also
In Spanish: Jamil Mahuad para niños
