Rafael Correa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rafael Correa
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Correa in 2013
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| 45th President of Ecuador | |
| In office 15 January 2007 – 24 May 2017 |
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| Vice President | |
| Preceded by | Alfredo Palacio |
| Succeeded by | Lenín Moreno |
| President of the PAIS Alliance | |
| In office 2 April 2006 – 1 May 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Party established |
| Succeeded by | Lenín Moreno |
| Minister of Economy and Finance | |
| In office 20 April 2005 – 9 August 2005 |
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| President | Alfredo Palacio |
| Preceded by | Mauricio Yépez |
| Succeeded by | Magdalena Barreiro |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Rafael Vicente Correa Delgado
6 April 1963 Guayaquil, Ecuador |
| Political party |
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| Other political affiliations |
Acuerdo Nacional (since 2018) |
| Spouse |
Anne Malherbe Gosselin
(m. 1992) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater |
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| Signature |  |
Rafael Vicente Correa Delgado (born 6 April 1963) is an Ecuadorian politician and economist. He served as the President of Ecuador from 2007 to 2017. He was the leader of the PAIS Alliance political group. Correa is known for his focus on left-wing policies, which often means the government plays a bigger role in the economy to help people. He also served as president of the UNASUR, a group of South American countries. Since 2017, he has been living in Belgium.
Correa was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, to a family that was not wealthy. He studied economics at several universities, including the Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil, the University of Louvain, and the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. After returning to Ecuador, he became the Minister for the Economy in 2005. He worked to increase government spending on health and education.
Correa won the presidency in 2006. He promised to change Ecuador's economic system and reduce the influence of big international organizations like the World Bank. During his time as president, a new constitution was created. He was reelected in 2009 and again in 2013.
His presidency was part of a trend in Latin America where many countries elected left-leaning governments. Correa worked closely with countries like Venezuela. His government increased spending, which helped reduce poverty and raise the minimum wage. This improved the lives of many Ecuadorians. For example, poverty went down from 36.7% to 22.5% between 2006 and 2016.
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Rafael Correa's Early Life
Rafael Correa's father was Rafael Correa Icaza, and his mother is Norma Delgado Rendón. He has three siblings: Fabricio, Pierina, and Bernardita. He grew up in Guayaquil and has said his family was "lower middle class." When he was five, his father was in prison for three years.
Correa was very involved in the Boy Scout program when he was young. A family friend helped him attend a good school, where he did very well. He later received a scholarship to study economics at the Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil (UCSG), graduating in 1987. While at UCSG, he was elected president of student groups.
After university, Correa worked for a year at a kindergarten in Zumbahua. Here, he taught math and learned some Quechua, the language spoken by many indigenous people in Ecuador. He then received a scholarship to study in Belgium, where he met his wife, Anne Malherbe Gosselin. They have three children. He earned a Master of Arts in Economics in 1991. He continued his studies in the United States, earning a Master of Science and a PhD in economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
After his studies, Correa taught economics at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito. He also advised government and international groups on economic matters. He was critical of Ecuador's decision to use the U.S. dollar as its currency, but he knew it would be hard to change this policy later.
Rafael Correa's Political Journey
From 1992 to 1993, Correa worked at Ecuador's Ministry of Education and Culture. He helped manage programs to improve the national education system.
Becoming Minister of Finance
On 20 April 2005, Rafael Correa became the Minister of Economy and Finance under President Alfredo Palacio. In this role, he met with leaders from other Latin American countries. He became known for challenging traditional economic ideas.
During his four months as minister, Correa was careful about signing a free trade agreement with the United States. He also did not follow advice from the International Monetary Fund. Instead, he focused on working more with other Latin American countries. A key decision he made was to use money from oil sales for health and education, rather than just paying off foreign debt. When the World Bank stopped a loan, Correa resigned. He believed the country should focus on social programs over debt.
Running for President in 2006
Correa decided to run for president in the 2006 election. He was not very well known at first. His campaign highlighted his background as a family man from humble beginnings who was upset with the country's political leaders. He called his campaign a "citizen's revolution" against the old political parties. He promised to free Ecuador from outside influences. He used popular songs and slogans to connect with voters.
Correa created a political group called the PAIS Alliance (meaning "Proud and Sovereign Fatherland Alliance"). He made an unusual choice by not putting forward any candidates for Congress, showing his opposition to the existing political system. He promised that if elected, he would hold a public vote to create a new constitution. He believed this was needed to change the political power structure.
He also traveled to Venezuela to meet with then-President Hugo Chávez, describing him as a friend. On economic issues, Correa wanted to reform the oil industry to use more oil money for social programs. He also wanted to reduce Ecuador's foreign debt. He could speak Quichua, which helped him connect with many of Ecuador's indigenous people.
In the October 2006 election, Correa came in second. He then won the runoff election in November 2006 with 57% of the votes.
Rafael Correa as President
Rafael Correa became the 56th President of Ecuador on 15 January 2007. Many leaders from other countries attended his inauguration. He announced that his election meant an end to certain economic policies in Ecuador. He also spoke out against discrimination.
In his first months, Correa's government increased payments to poor families, boosted housing loans, and lowered electricity prices for low-income people. He held a public vote in April 2007 on whether to create a new constitution, and over 80% of people voted yes. Elections for a group to write the new constitution were held, and Correa's party won many seats. The new constitution gave more powers to the president.
First Term: 2007-2009
Changing Ecuador's Economy
Correa's government took a strong stance against the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Ecuador paid off its debt to the IMF in April 2007, saying it wanted no further relationship with the fund. Correa spoke about building a different kind of economy, one that focused on "living well" and meeting basic needs, rather than just competition and having more things. This idea was called Buen Viver (Good Living).
He declared some of Ecuador's national debt unfair and refused to pay over $3 billion worth of bonds. He fought creditors and managed to reduce the price of these bonds. He believed that people's lives should come before debt. Correa also criticized previous presidents for using the U.S. dollar as Ecuador's currency, calling it a "technical error" because it meant Ecuador couldn't control its own money. However, he promised to keep the dollar during his term.
In May 2009, Ecuador successfully bought back 91% of its bonds at a much lower price. In 2008, the government also renegotiated deals with mobile phone companies, getting much more money for the country.
Ecuador's Place in the World
Correa changed Ecuador's relationships with other countries. He worked to fix Ecuador's debt problems and moved away from close ties with the United States. He also strengthened connections with groups like ALBA (which includes Venezuela and Bolivia).
At the time he was elected, the Manta Air Base was the only U.S. military base in South America. Correa refused to let the U.S. continue using the base after its lease ended in 2009. The new constitution also banned foreign military bases in Ecuador.
Creating a New Constitution
In February 2007, Correa's plan for a public vote on a new constitution was approved. The vote happened on 15 April 2007, and most Ecuadorians supported it. Elections for the group that would write the new constitution were held in September 2007. Correa's party won about 61% of the seats.
The group started writing the new constitution in November 2007. They worked to include environmental laws that gave rights to nature and ecosystems. On 28 September 2008, Ecuadorians voted to approve the new constitution, with 64% voting yes.
Protecting the Environment
Correa said his government was "green" because it protected the environment. He worked to stop the hunting of whales and banned the cutting of certain valuable trees. He also proposed a plan where Ecuador would not extract oil from a large oil field in the Yasuní National Park if the international community paid Ecuador $350 million each year. This money would help protect the park and its biodiversity.
However, in 2013, Ecuador decided to auction off parts of the Amazon rainforest in the Yasuni Nature Reserve to Chinese oil companies. Indigenous people living there protested, saying it would harm their way of life and the environment. In August 2013, Correa stopped the Yasuní-ITT Initiative (the plan to leave oil in the ground), saying there wasn't enough international support.
Correa also changed a ban on selling shark fins, allowing them to be sold only if sharks were caught by accident by local fishermen.
Second Presidential Term: 2009-2013
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Rafael Correa was re-elected for a second term in April 2009, winning 52% of the vote. He was the first Ecuadorian President in a long time to serve two terms in a row. His party also won many seats in the National Assembly.
He was sworn in on 10 August 2009. He promised to continue his "socialist revolution" to end poverty and ensure all citizens were equal.
Improving Health Care
The health budget in Ecuador greatly increased under Correa, from $561 million in 2006 to $1.774 billion in 2012. The government worked with Cuba to produce affordable medicine. Doctors' working hours and salaries were increased. Mobile hospitals were also introduced.
The number of babies who died before their first birthday (infant mortality) decreased from 24.4 per 1000 in 2005 to 18.3 in 2015. New public hospitals were built, and more people worked in public health. In 2008, the government introduced social security coverage for everyone.
Oil and Gas Changes
Correa announced reforms to oil and gas laws in July 2010. These changes aimed to give the state more control over the industry. He warned foreign oil companies that if they didn't follow the new rules, their operations could be taken over by the government.
Higher Education Reforms
The government also worked to improve higher education. A scholarship program was started to send Ecuadorians to study at top universities around the world. By 2013, about 8,500 scholarships had been given out.
2010 Ecuador Crisis
On 30 September 2010, some police officers went on strike because of a new law. Protests included blocking roads and taking over government buildings. President Correa went to talk to the police but was attacked and held hostage in a hospital. He declared a national emergency. An army unit rescued him later that night. Eight people died and 274 were injured during the unrest.
Leaders from other South American countries quickly met to support Ecuador's democratic government and President Correa. They also agreed to take action if similar events happened again.
Leading UNASUR
Correa signed the treaty to create the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) in 2009. Ecuador ratified the treaty, and the UNASUR headquarters are located in Ecuador. On 10 August 2009, Correa became the temporary president of UNASUR for one year. He proposed that UNASUR work together against large international companies.
He also asked UNASUR to investigate the police protests in Ecuador. In 2014, Correa opened the $65 million UNASUR headquarters in Quito.
Public Vote in 2011
Correa held another public vote on 7 May 2011, asking Ecuadorians to vote on ten questions, including changes to the justice system. All ten questions passed. This was the eighth election or public vote during his time in office.
Chinese Support
In 2010 and 2011, Ecuador received about $5 billion in loans from China. These loans helped finance large projects, like the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant. Correa said these loans were a "good business" because they helped finance projects that brought a lot of profit to Ecuador. He also said that while 50% of Ecuador's oil was committed to China in exchange for these loans, in 2006, 75% of the oil went to the United States without any loans in return.
In 2012, China loaned Ecuador $240 million to improve its security system. This included new surveillance cameras, drones, and other technologies. The government said this system helped reduce crime and improve emergency response times.
Justice System Changes
After the 2011 public vote, a new council was created to restructure Ecuador's justice system. This council worked to create a new National Court of Justice, whose members started their jobs in January 2012. The goal was to make the justice system stronger and more fair.
Third Presidential Term: 2013-2017
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General elections were held in Ecuador on 17 February 2013. Correa was reelected president in the first round. His party, Alianza PAIS, won most of the seats in the National Assembly.
In 2013, a new communication law was passed. The Ministry of Telecommunication also won an award for its project on digital training using mobile classrooms.
Economy and Poverty Reduction
Between 2007 and 2014, poverty in Ecuador decreased significantly, from 36.7% to 22.5%. Economic inequality also went down. The country's economy grew, and the standard of living improved for many people.
Helping People with Disabilities
Ecuador became a leader in Latin America for helping people with disabilities. Government spending on this area increased greatly. Newborns are now tested to ensure early care. Large employers must reserve at least 4% of their jobs for people with disabilities. There are also programs to provide special texts and computers for people with visual impairments.
Foreign Policy in Third Term
In November 2013, Correa's government asked the United States Agency for International Development to stop its activities in Ecuador, saying it was supporting the opposition. In April 2014, Correa's government also ordered all U.S. Defence Department employees working in the U.S. embassy to leave the country. Correa believed there were too many U.S. military officers in Ecuador.
After the Presidency
After his term ended, Correa remained active in politics. He shared his opinions on the country's situation and the new government through articles and social media.
Since 2018, Correa has hosted a weekly political talk show called Conversation with Correa on RT Spanish.
Political Ideas
Correa describes his political ideas as "socialism of the 21st century". This generally means focusing on government programs to help people and reduce inequality. Some have described his approach as "economically populist," meaning he appealed directly to the people, especially those who felt left out of the political system. He often promised to redistribute wealth and power.
Correa has also stated his opposition to same-sex marriage.
Honours and Awards
| Award or decoration | Country | Date | Place | Note | Ref | |
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Grand Collar of the Order of the Liberator |  Venezuela |
11 October 2007 | Caracas | Former Venezuelan highest distinction. | |
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Collar of the Order of the Liberator General San Martín |  Argentina |
21 April 2008 | Quito | Argentinian highest decoration. | |
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Grand Cross of the Order of Francisco Morazán |  Honduras |
31 May 2009 | Tegucigalpa | ||
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Grand Collar of the Order of the Sun |  Peru |
9 June 2010 | Lima | Peruvian highest award. | |
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Order of Augusto César Sandino |  Nicaragua |
15 November 2010 | Quito | Highest honour of the Republic of Nicaragua. | |
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Order of José Martí |  Cuba |
5 May 2017 | Havana | Highest distinction of the Republic of Cuba. | |
Other Recognition
Rafael Correa has also received:
- Conquering Insignia of Tarqui, Grand Cross of the Armed Forces of Ecuador.
- Order Great Marshal of Ayacucho of Venezuela (February 2009).
- Medal of Honor in the Grade of Grand Cross from the Congress of Peru (12 June 2010).
- Great Necklace of the Ecuadorian Federation of Soccer (November 2010).
- Medal of "Distinguished Visitor" from the UCSG.
- Highest honour from the Association of Retired Generals of the National Police.
Honorary Degrees
Correa has received honorary doctorates from many universities around the world, including:
- University of Chile (Chile, 2008)
- Universidad Nacional de Asunción (Paraguay, 2009)
- Moscow State Institute of International Relations (Russia, 2009)
- Ural State University (Russia, 2009)
- University of Buenos Aires (Argentina, 2010)
- Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic, 2010)
- University of Chiclayo (Peru, 2012)
- Bahçeşehir University (Turkey, 2012)
- People's Friendship University of Russia (Russia, 2013)
- Universitat de Barcelona (Spain, 2014)
- University of Santiago, Chile (Chile, 2014)
- National University of Córdoba (Argentina, 2015)
- Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 (France, 2015)
- University of Havana (Cuba, 2017)
- National University of Quilmes (Argentina, 2017)
- Université Grenoble Alpes (France, 2017)
- Universidad Nacional de Rosario (Argentina, 2018)
He also received the Prize for Exceptional Academic Achievement 2009 from the University of Illinois and the Faces and Masks Democracy Prize in Buenos Aires in 2010.
Work Published
Books
- Ecuador: From Banana Republic to Non Republic, Random House, Quito, 2009.
- "The Vulnerability of the Ecuadorian Economy: Toward better Economic Politics for Employment Generation, Reduction of poverty and Inequality," Program of the United Nations for Development (UNDP), Quito, 2004.
- "The Challenge of Development: Are We Prepared for the Future?," Publications of the San Francisco de Quito University, Quito, 1996.
Academic Articles
- "The Washington Consensus in Latin America: to a Quantitative Evaluation", working paper, San Francisco de Quito University, Quito, April 2002.
- "Structural Reform and Growth in Latin America: a sensitivity analysis", CEPAL Magazine, number 76, April 2002, Santiago de Chile.
- "One Market, One Currency: the Economic Desirability of Monetary Union for the CAN", working paper, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, May 2001.
- "Destabilizing Speculation in the Exchange Market: the Ecuadorian Marries", working paper. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, January 2000.
- "Endogenous Institutional Change? To a Critical View of the Political Economy of the Reforms: the Ecuadorian Marries", working paper. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, August 1999.
- "The Ecuadorian ISI Revisited", working paper, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, May 1999.
Images for kids
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Correa and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow, 29 October 2009
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Presidents Fernando Lugo of Paraguay, Evo Morales of Bolívia, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brasil, Rafael Correa of Ecuador, and Hugo Chávez of Venezuela, in Fórum Social Mundial for Latin America
See also
In Spanish: Rafael Correa para niños
