José María Velasco Ibarra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
José María Velasco Ibarra
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| 24th President of Ecuador | |
| In office 1 September 1968 – 15 February 1972 |
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| Vice President | Jorge Zavala Baquerizo |
| Preceded by | Otto Arosemena Gómez |
| Succeeded by | Guillermo Rodríguez Lara |
| In office 1 September 1960 – 7 November 1961 |
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| Vice President | Carlos Julio Arosemena Monroy |
| Preceded by | Camilo Ponce Enríquez |
| Succeeded by | Carlos Julio Arosemena Monroy |
| In office 1 September 1952 – 31 August 1956 |
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| Vice President | Alfredo Chiriboga |
| Preceded by | Galo Plaza Lasso |
| Succeeded by | Camilo Ponce Enríquez |
| In office 1 June 1944 – 23 August 1947 |
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| Vice President | Mariano Suárez Veintimilla |
| Preceded by | Carlos Alberto Arroyo del Río |
| Succeeded by | Carlos Mancheno Cajas |
| In office 1 September 1934 – 21 August 1935 |
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| Preceded by | Abelardo Montalvo |
| Succeeded by | Antonio Pons |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
José María Velasco Ibarra
March 19, 1893 Quito, Ecuador |
| Died | March 30, 1979 (aged 86) Quito, Ecuador |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse |
Corina del Parral
(m. 1938; died 1979) |
| Alma mater | Central University of Ecuador |
| Signature |  |
José María Velasco Ibarra (born March 19, 1893 – died March 30, 1979) was an important politician from Ecuador. He became the president of Ecuador five times. He served in 1934–1935, 1944–1947, 1952–1956, 1960–1961, and 1968–1972. Out of these five times, he only finished his full term once, from 1952 to 1956. In his other terms, the military removed him from power. Sometimes, he even became president after a military takeover.
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Early Life and Education
Velasco Ibarra was born in Quito, Ecuador, on March 19, 1893. His parents were Delia Ibarra and Alejandrino Velasco. His father was an engineer and a political activist. Velasco Ibarra was taught at home by his mother. His father passed away when he was 16 years old.
He went to high school at Colegio San Gabriel. Later, he studied law at the Central University of Ecuador. He earned a degree called a Doctorate in Jurisprudence (JD). Velasco Ibarra also wrote several books, including Conciencia y Barbarie. He was also a writer for the newspaper El Comercio.
His first job in public service was in Quito's city government. He helped manage public projects and visited different communities. His political journey started when he became a Deputy of the Republic. In 1932, he was chosen as the Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies. A few days later, he became the President of the Chamber of Deputies.
Velasco Ibarra's Presidencies
In 1933, Velasco Ibarra ran for president of Ecuador. He won with 80% of the votes, which was the highest in Ecuador's history. His first time as president began on September 1, 1934. However, the military removed him from office in August 1935. After this, he went to live in Colombia. He worked as a teacher there. Later, he moved to Buenos Aires, where he taught at a university.
He ran for president again in 1940 but lost by a small amount. Many people believed there was cheating in the election. Velasco Ibarra was arrested and sent away from the country again.
In 1944, Ecuador faced a difficult time after a war with Peru. There was also tension between the army and the national police. Prices were very high, making people unhappy. Velasco Ibarra promised to fix things and appealed to ordinary people. He presented himself as a good leader who would fight against corruption. He did not offer a detailed plan, but he attracted many supporters.
Thanks to a movement called the "Glorious Revolution" on May 28, 1944, he became the Supreme Chief of the Republic. Later, a special assembly named him the Constitutional President. But in August 1947, the military removed him from power again.
In 1952, he won the presidential election for the third time. He started his term on September 1, 1952. This time, he served his full four-year term, ending on August 31, 1956. This period was a time of progress for Ecuador. During his term, 311 new schools were built, and 104 more were started. Over 1,359 kilometers (about 844 miles) of roads were built, and 1,057 kilometers (about 657 miles) were improved.
Velasco Ibarra was known for being a great speaker. When he campaigned, he would travel from town to town. He used his powerful words to connect with people and became a leader for many. He famously said, "Give me a balcony and I will become president." This showed how confident he was in his ability to win over crowds.
In 1960, he was elected president for the fourth time. He was removed from office on November 7, 1961. In 1960, he canceled an agreement called the Rio de Janeiro Protocol. This led to border disagreements between Ecuador and Peru. These disagreements later caused conflicts like the Paquisha War in 1981 and the Cenepa War in 1995.
Finally, in 1968, Velasco Ibarra won the presidency for a fifth time. This government ended suddenly on February 15, 1972. He was removed in a peaceful military takeover, which brought General Guillermo Rodríguez Lara to power. In total, Velasco Ibarra was president for almost 13 years. This makes him the longest-serving president in Ecuador's history.
Velasco Ibarra was a popular leader who did not have a formal political party. He used his speeches to attract many followers. He presented himself as someone who cared about the poor and struggling people. While in office, he did not make many big changes. However, he used his power to help his supporters, even though his governments were sometimes not very efficient.
Important Works and Achievements
Velasco Ibarra always cared a lot about building new things for the country. Many public works were built during his time as president. These included roads, hospitals, and bridges. He also started important organizations like the Supreme Electoral Tribunal. He created a law that gave workers weekly days off. He also ordered the building of irrigation canals, schools, airports, and highways.
Death
Velasco Ibarra's wife, Corina Parral de Velasco Ibarra, passed away in Buenos Aires after falling from a bus. Her death greatly affected Velasco Ibarra. When he returned to Ecuador, he said, "I come to meditate and to die." He died in Quito on March 30, 1979.
Images for kids
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Velasco Ibarra's signature
See also
