List of presidents of Ecuador facts for kids
This article contains a list of presidents of Ecuador, since the independence from Gran Colombia (1830) to the present day.
Background
Juan José Flores was the first constitutional president of Ecuador, declaring the separation of the State of Ecuador from Gran Colombia, maintaining its presidential government structure, which has remained until the present day. Between 1830 and 1845, the office of President of the Republic was elected indirectly, that is, through the Legislature. The first presidents were mostly elected through Constituent Assemblies, a tradition in the politics of Ecuador which remained until 1967, with Otto Arosemena being the last constitutional president elected through the Constituent Assembly. This is one of the reasons why Ecuador has had 20 Constitutions since its foundation, many of them created with the intention of legitimizing the government of a president. Since 1869, the president is elected by popular vote; however, it should be borne in mind that during the 19th century, Ecuador lived a census democracy: only men with sufficient income and decent office voted, being Francisco Robles the first president elected by direct vote.
Between 1906 and 1944, during the Liberal Revolution, the elections were held in a generally fraudulent or corrupt manner, so the year 1944 is estimated as the beginning of democracy in Ecuador. Between 1906 and 1947, there was no office of Vice President. Between 1947 and 1970, the president and vice president were elected separately. Since 1979, the president and vice president are elected by direct suffrage on the same ballot. Since 1998, a candidate who obtains more than 40% of votes can also win, provided he has a difference of at least 10% over the second candidate. All these percentages are calculated on the total valid votes (that is, without counting null and blank votes).
The history of Ecuador has been full of instability, usually centered on the figure of the President of the Republic, which is why Ecuador's political culture has been traditionally called caudillista. During the 19th century, the country was torn apart twice after the overthrow of the presidents Francisco Robles and Ignacio de Veintemilla, with regional governments seeking access to national power. Until 1947, the majority of the constitutional presidents of the Republic came to power through coups d'etat, exercising dictatorial power which would be legitimized through the implementation of new constitutions, so that the governance and stability of the presidents has been usually weak, which is why there has been many presiding and interim presidents. There were two military dictatorships in the country (1963–1966 and 1972–1979) before democracy returned with the election of Jaime Roldós Aguilera. From 1996 to 2005, 3 constitutional presidents were overthrown (Abdalá Bucaram, Jamil Mahuad and Lucio Gutiérrez). The left-wing populist government of Rafael Correa (2007–2017) has been the most stable in national history, being able to remain in power constitutionally without interruptions for 10 years and 4 months. José María Velasco Ibarra is the longest-serving president since he held office for a total of 12 years, 10 months and 6 days and was elected President 5 times (1934–35, 1944–47, 1952–56, 1960–61 and 1968–1972).
List of presidents
No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) |
Term of office | Political party | Elected | Ref. | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||||
1 | Juan José Flores (1800–1864) |
May 3, 1830 | August 14, 1830 | 103 days | Independent | ||||
August 14, 1830 | September 10, 1834 | 4 years, 27 days | 1830 | ||||||
2 | Vicente Rocafuerte (1783–1847) |
September 10, 1834 | August 8, 1835 | 332 days | Independent | ||||
August 8, 1835 | January 31, 1839 | 3 years, 176 days | 1835 | ||||||
(1) | Juan José Flores (1800–1864) |
February 1, 1839 | March 6, 1845 (deposed) |
6 years, 136 days | Independent | 1839 1843 |
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— | José Joaquín de Olmedo (1780–1847) President of the triumvirate |
March 6, 1845 | December 8, 1845 | 174 days | Independent | ||||
3 | Vicente Ramón Roca (1792–1858) |
December 8, 1845 | October 15, 1849 | 3 years, 311 days | Independent | 1843 | |||
— | Manuel de Ascásubi (1804–1876) acting |
October 15, 1849 | December 7, 1850 | 1 year, 53 days | Independent | ||||
4 | Diego Noboa (1789–1870) |
December 8, 1850 | February 25, 1851 | 79 days | Independent | ||||
February 25, 1851 | September 12, 1851 | 199 days | 1851 | ||||||
5 | José María Urvina (1808–1891) |
July 24, 1851 | July 17, 1852 | 359 days | Independent | ||||
July 17, 1852 | October 15, 1856 | 4 years, 90 days | 1852 | ||||||
6 | Francisco Robles (1811–1893) |
October 16, 1856 | August 31, 1859 | 2 years, 319 days | Independent | 1856 | |||
7 | Gabriel García Moreno (1821–1875) |
January 17, 1861 | April 2, 1861 | 75 days | Conservative Party | ||||
April 2, 1861 | August 30, 1865 | 4 years, 150 days | 1861 | ||||||
— | Rafael Carvajal (1818–1881) acting |
August 31, 1865 | September 7, 1865 | 7 days | Conservative Party | ||||
8 | Jerónimo Carrión (1804–1873) |
September 7, 1865 | November 6, 1867 | 2 years, 60 days | Conservative Party | 1865 | |||
— | Pedro José de Arteta (1797–1873) acting |
November 7, 1867 | January 20, 1868 | 74 days | Conservative Party | ||||
9 | Javier Espinosa (1815–1870) |
January 20, 1868 | January 19, 1869 | 365 days | Conservative Party | 1868 | |||
— | Gabriel García Moreno (1821–1875) acting |
January 19, 1869 | May 19, 1869 | 120 days | Conservative Party | ||||
— | Manuel de Ascásubi (1804–1876) acting |
May 19, 1869 | August 10, 1869 | 83 days | Conservative Party | ||||
(7) | Gabriel García Moreno (1821–1875) |
August 10, 1869 | August 6, 1875 † | 5 years, 361 days | Conservative Party | 1869 1875 (May) |
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— | Francisco Xavier León (1832–1880) acting |
August 6, 1875 | September 15, 1875 | 40 days | Conservative Party | ||||
— | José Javier Eguiguren (1816–1884) acting |
September 15, 1875 | December 9, 1875 | 85 days | Conservative Party | ||||
10 | Antonio Borrero (1827–1911) |
December 9, 1875 | December 18, 1876 | 1 year, 9 days | Conservative Party | 1875 (Oct.) | |||
11 | Ignacio de Veintemilla (1828–1908) |
December 18, 1876 | January 26, 1878 | 1 year, 39 days | Military | ||||
April 21, 1878 | March 26, 1882 | 3 years, 339 days | 1878 | ||||||
March 26, 1882 | July 9, 1883 | 1 year, 105 days | |||||||
— | Luis Cordero Crespo (1833–1912) Government of the Restoration |
July 1, 1892 | April 16, 1895 | 2 years, 289 days | Republican Union Party | ||||
12 | José Plácido Caamaño (1837–1900) |
October 15, 1883 | February 10, 1884 | 118 days | Conservative Party | ||||
February 10, 1884 | June 30, 1888 | 4 years, 141 days | 1884 | ||||||
— | Pedro José Cevallos (1830–1892) acting |
July 1, 1888 | August 17, 1888 | 47 days | Conservative Party | ||||
13 | Antonio Flores Jijón (1833–1915) |
August 17, 1888 | June 10, 1892 | 3 years, 298 days | Republican Union Party | 1888 | |||
14 | Luis Cordero Crespo (1833–1912) |
July 1, 1892 | April 16, 1895 | 2 years, 289 days | Republican Union Party | 1892 | |||
— | Vicente Lucio Salazar (1832–1896) acting |
April 16, 1895 | June 5, 1895 | 50 days | Conservative Party | ||||
15 | Eloy Alfaro (1842–1912) |
June 5, 1895 | October 9, 1896 | 1 year, 126 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | ||||
October 9, 1896 | August 31, 1901 | 4 years, 326 days | 1897 | ||||||
16 | Leónidas Plaza (1865–1932) |
September 1, 1901 | August 31, 1905 | 3 years, 364 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | 1901 | |||
17 | Lizardo García (1844–1937) |
September 1, 1905 | January 15, 1906 | 136 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | 1905 | |||
(15) | Eloy Alfaro (1842–1912) |
January 16, 1906 | October 9, 1906 | 266 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | ||||
October 9, 1906 | August 11, 1911 | 4 years, 306 days | 1906 | ||||||
— | Carlos Freile Zaldumbide (1851–1928) acting |
August 11, 1911 | August 31, 1911 | 20 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | ||||
18 | Emilio Estrada (1855–1911) |
September 1, 1911 | December 21, 1911 | 111 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | 1911 | |||
— | Carlos Freile Zaldumbide (1851–1928) acting |
December 22, 1911 | March 5, 1912 | 74 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | ||||
— | Francisco Andrade Marín (1841–1935) acting |
March 6, 1912 | August 1, 1912 | 148 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | ||||
— | Alfredo Baquerizo (1859–1951) acting |
August 1, 1912 | September 1, 1912 | 31 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | ||||
(16) | Leónidas Plaza (1865–1932) |
September 1, 1912 | August 31, 1916 | 3 years, 365 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | 1912 | |||
19 | Alfredo Baquerizo (1859–1951) |
September 1, 1916 | August 31, 1920 | 3 years, 365 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | 1916 | |||
20 | José Luis Tamayo (1858–1947) |
September 1, 1920 | August 31, 1924 | 3 years, 365 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | 1920 | |||
21 | Gonzalo Córdova (1863–1928) |
September 1, 1924 | July 9, 1925 | 311 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | 1924 | |||
First Provisional Government collective leadership |
July 10, 1925 | January 6, 1926 | 180 days | ||||||
Second Provisional Government collective leadership |
January 10, 1926 | March 31, 1926 | 80 days | ||||||
22 | Isidro Ayora (1879–1978) |
April 3, 1926 | April 17, 1929 | 3 years, 14 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | ||||
April 17, 1929 | August 24, 1931 | 2 years, 129 days | 1929 | ||||||
— | Luis Larrea Alba (1894–1979) acting |
August 24, 1931 | October 15, 1931 | 52 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | ||||
— | Alfredo Baquerizo (1859–1951) acting |
October 15, 1931 | August 28, 1932 | 318 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | ||||
— | Carlos Freile Larrea (1876–1942) acting |
August 28, 1932 | September 1, 1932 | 4 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | ||||
— | Alberto Guerrero Martínez (1878–1941) acting |
September 2, 1932 | December 4, 1932 | 93 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | ||||
23 | Juan de Dios Martínez (1875–1955) |
December 5, 1932 | October 19, 1933 | 318 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | 1932 | |||
— | Abelardo Montalvo (1876–1950) acting |
October 20, 1933 | August 31, 1934 | 315 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | ||||
24 | José María Velasco Ibarra (1893–1979) |
September 1, 1934 | August 21, 1935 | 354 days | Independent | 1934 | |||
— | Antonio Pons (1897–1980) acting |
August 21, 1935 | September 25, 1935 | 35 days | Conservative Party | ||||
— | Federico Páez (1877–1974) Jefe Supremo |
September 26, 1935 | October 23, 1937 | 2 years, 27 days | Independent | ||||
— | Alberto Enríquez Gallo (1894–1962) Jefe Supremo |
October 23, 1937 | August 10, 1938 | 291 days | Military | ||||
— | Manuel María Borrero (1883–1975) acting |
August 10, 1938 | December 1, 1938 | 113 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | ||||
25 | Aurelio Mosquera (1883–1939) |
December 2, 1938 | November 17, 1939 | 350 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | 1938 | |||
— | Carlos Alberto Arroyo del Río (1893–1969) acting |
November 18, 1939 | December 10, 1939 | 22 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | ||||
— | Andrés Córdova (1892–1983) acting |
December 11, 1939 | August 10, 1940 | 243 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | ||||
— | Julio Enrique Moreno (1879–1952) acting |
August 10, 1940 | August 31, 1940 | 21 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | ||||
26 | Carlos Alberto Arroyo del Río (1893–1969) |
September 1, 1940 | May 28, 1944 | 3 years, 270 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | 1940 | |||
— | Julio Teodoro Salem (1900–1968) acting |
May 29, 1944 | May 31, 1944 | 2 days | Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party | ||||
(24) | José María Velasco Ibarra (1893–1979) |
June 1, 1944 | August 23, 1947 | 3 years, 83 days | Independent | 1944 1946 |
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— | Carlos Mancheno Cajas (1902–1996) Jefe Supremo |
August 23, 1947 | September 2, 1947 | 10 days | Military | ||||
27 | Mariano Suárez Veintimilla (1897–1980) |
September 2, 1947 | September 17, 1947 | 15 days | Conservative Party | 1946 | |||
28 | C. J. Arosemena Tola (1888–1952) |
September 17, 1947 | August 31, 1948 | 349 days | Independent | 1947 | |||
29 | Galo Plaza (1906–1987) |
September 1, 1948 | August 31, 1952 | 3 years, 365 days | National Democratic Civic Movement | 1948 | |||
(24) | José María Velasco Ibarra (1893–1979) |
September 1, 1952 | August 31, 1956 | 3 years, 365 days | Velaquista National Federation | 1952 | |||
30 | Camilo Ponce Enríquez (1912–1976) |
September 1, 1956 | August 31, 1960 | 3 years, 365 days | Social Christian Party | 1956 | |||
(24) | José María Velasco Ibarra (1893–1979) |
September 1, 1960 | November 7, 1961 | 1 year, 67 days | Velaquista National Federation | 1960 | |||
31 | C. J. Arosemena Monroy (1919–2004) |
November 7, 1961 | July 11, 1963 | 1 year, 246 days | Independent | ||||
— | Admiral Ramón Castro Jijón (1915–1984) Chairman of the Military Junta of 1963 |
July 11, 1963 | March 29, 1966 | 2 years, 261 days | Military | ||||
— | Clemente Yerovi (1904–1981) acting |
March 30, 1966 | November 16, 1966 | 231 days | Institutionalist Democratic Coalition | ||||
32 | Otto Arosemena (1925–1984) |
November 16, 1966 | May 25, 1967 | 190 days | Institutionalist Democratic Coalition | ||||
May 25, 1967 | August 31, 1968 | 1 year, 98 days | |||||||
(24) | José María Velasco Ibarra (1893–1979) |
September 1, 1968 | February 15, 1972 | 3 years, 167 days | Velaquista National Federation | 1968 | |||
— | General Guillermo Rodríguez Lara (born 1923) Chairman of the Council of Government |
February 15, 1972 | January 11, 1976 | 3 years, 330 days | Military | ||||
— | Vice Admiral Alfredo Poveda (1926–1990) President of the Supreme Council of Government |
January 11, 1976 | August 10, 1979 | 3 years, 211 days | Military | ||||
33 | Jaime Roldós Aguilera (1940–1981) |
August 10, 1979 | May 24, 1981 | 1 year, 287 days | Concentration of People's Forces | 1979 | |||
34 | Osvaldo Hurtado (born 1939) |
May 24, 1981 | August 10, 1984 | 3 years, 78 days | Popular Democracy | ||||
35 | León Febres Cordero (1931–2008) |
August 10, 1984 | August 10, 1988 | 4 years | Social Christian Party | 1984 | |||
36 | Rodrigo Borja Cevallos (born 1935) |
August 10, 1988 | August 10, 1992 | 4 years | Democratic Left | 1988 | |||
37 | Sixto Durán Ballén (1921–2016) |
August 10, 1992 | August 10, 1996 | 4 years | Republican Unity Party | 1992 | |||
38 | Abdalá Bucaram (born 1952) |
August 10, 1996 | February 6, 1997 | 180 days | Ecuadorian Roldosist Party | 1996 | |||
39 | Rosalía Arteaga (born 1956) |
February 9, 1997 | February 11, 1997 | 2 days | MIRA Movement | ||||
40 | Fabián Alarcón (born 1947) |
February 11, 1997 | August 10, 1998 | 1 year, 180 days | Alfarista Radical Front | ||||
41 | Jamil Mahuad (born 1949) |
August 10, 1998 | January 21, 2000 (deposed) |
1 year, 164 days | Popular Democracy | 1998 | |||
42 | Gustavo Noboa (1937–2021) |
January 22, 2000 | January 15, 2003 | 2 years, 358 days | Independent | ||||
43 | Lucio Gutiérrez (born 1957) |
January 15, 2003 | April 20, 2005 | 2 years, 95 days | Patriotic Society Party | 2002 | |||
44 | Alfredo Palacio (born 1939) |
April 20, 2005 | January 15, 2007 | 1 year, 270 days | Independent | ||||
45 | Rafael Correa (born 1963) |
January 15, 2007 | May 24, 2017 | 10 years, 129 days | PAIS Alliance | 2006 2009 2013 |
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46 | Lenín Moreno (born 1953) |
May 24, 2017 | May 24, 2021 | 4 years | PAIS Alliance | 2017 | |||
47 | Guillermo Lasso (born 1955) |
May 24, 2021 | November 23, 2023 | 2 years, 183 days | Creating Opportunities | 2021 | |||
48 | Daniel Noboa (born 1987) |
November 23, 2023 | Incumbent | 351 days | National Democratic Action | 2023 |
Timeline
Rival governments in rebellion
Picture | Name | Began | Ended | Title(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Vicente Rocafuerte | October 20, 1833 | July 1834 | Jefe Supremo of the Department of the Guayas | |
José Félix Valdivieso | July 13, 1834 | January 18, 1835 | Jefe Supremo | |
José Joaquín de Olmedo | March 6, 1845 | June 18, 1845 | President of the Provisional Government | |
Antonio de Elizalde | March 1850 | 1850 | Jefe Supremo | |
Diego Noboa | February 20, 1850 | June 10, 1850 | Jefe Supremo | |
José María Urvina | July 13, 1851 | July 17, 1851 | Jefe Supremo | |
Provisional Government | May 1, 1859 | June 4, 1859 | Members: Gabriel García Moreno (from May 25) Manuel Gómez de la Torre (to May 25) José María Avilés Pacífico Chiriboga |
|
Jerónimo Carrión | June 6, 1859 | 1859 | ||
Gabriel García Moreno | June 4, 1859 | September 17, 1861 | Jefe Supremo | |
Guillermo Franco | September 17, 1859 | September 24, 1860 | Jefe Supremo of Guayas and Azuay | |
Ignacio de Veintemilla | September 8, 1876 | December 19, 1876 | Jefe Supremo | |
Eloy Alfaro | February 1883 | October 11, 1883 | Jefe Supremo of Manabí and Esmeraldas | |
Provisional Government | January 14, 1883 | July 9, 1883 | Members: José María Sarasti Pedro Ignacio Lizarzaburu Agustín Guerrero Luis Cordero Crespo (from February 14) Pablo Herrera (to February 14) Rafael Pérez Pareja |
|
Pedro Carbo | September 17, 1883 | October 11, 1883 | Jefe Supremo of Guayas | |
Eloy Alfaro | June 19, 1895 | August 23, 1895 | Jefe Supremo | |
Flavio E. Alfaro Santana | December 22, 1911 | January 1912 | ||
Pedro Jacinto Montero Maridueña | December 28, 1911 | January 21, 1912 |
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Presidentes del Ecuador para niños