Ecuador Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! === Return to democracy (1979–present) === {{See also|History of Ecuador (1990–present)}} Elections were held on 29 April 1979, under a new constitution. [[Jaime Roldós Aguilera]] was elected president, garnering over one million votes, the most in Ecuadorian history. He took office on 10 August as the first constitutionally elected president, after nearly a decade of civilian and military dictatorships. In 1980, he founded the ''Partido Pueblo, Cambio y Democracia'' (People, Change, and Democracy Party) after withdrawing from the ''Concentración de Fuerzas Populares'' (Popular Forces Concentration). He governed until 24 May 1981, when he died, along with his wife and the minister of defense [[Marco Subia Martinez]], when his Air Force plane crashed in heavy rain near the Peruvian border. Many people believe that he was assassinated by the CIA,<ref>{{cite web|website=Films For Action|title=Apology Of An Economic Hitman (2010)|url=https://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/apology-of-an-economic-hitman/|access-date=21 September 2021|archive-date=21 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921085826/https://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/apology-of-an-economic-hitman/|url-status=live}}</ref> given the multiple death threats against him because of his reformist agenda, the deaths in automobile crashes of two key witnesses before they could testify during the investigation, and the sometimes contradictory accounts of the incident. Roldos was immediately succeeded by Vice President Osvaldo Hurtado. In 1984 [[León Febres Cordero]] from the Social Christian Party was elected president. [[Rodrigo Borja Cevallos]] of the Democratic Left (Izquierda Democrática, or ID) party won the presidency in 1988, winning the runoff election against [[Abdalá Bucaram]] (brother in law of [[Jaime Roldos]] and founder of the Ecuadorian Roldosist Party). His government was committed to improving human rights protection and carried out some reforms, notably an opening of Ecuador to foreign trade. The Borja government negotiated the disbanding of the small terrorist group, "[[¡Alfaro Vive, Carajo!]]" ("Alfaro Lives, Dammit!"), named after [[Eloy Alfaro]]. However, continuing economic problems undermined the popularity of the ID party, and opposition parties gained control of Congress in 1999.[[File:CAMBIO DE GUARDIA.jpg|thumb|President [[Lenín Moreno]], first lady [[Rocío González Navas]] and his predecessor [[Rafael Correa]], 3 April 2017|250x250px]] A notable event was the [[Cenepa War]] fought between Ecuador and Peru in 1995. Ecuador adopted the [[United States dollar]] on 13 April 2000 as its national currency and on 11 September, the country eliminated the [[Ecuadorian sucre]], in order to stabilize the [[Economy of Ecuador|country's economy]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Outsourcing the Money Supply |url=https://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/eric-schnurer/2014/05/02/why-ecuador-and-other-states-dont-use-their-own-money |date=2 May 2014 |first=Eric |last=Schnurer |website=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=18 May 2022 |archive-date=18 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518172304/https://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/eric-schnurer/2014/05/02/why-ecuador-and-other-states-dont-use-their-own-money |url-status=live }}</ref> The US Dollar has been the only official currency of Ecuador since then.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ecuador's one and only official currency is the US Dollar |url=https://peopleplacesandthoughts.com/home/2019/5/24/ecuadors-one-and-only-official-currency-is-the-us-dollar |website=People Places and Thoughts |date=24 May 2019 |first=Patrick James |last=Kapche |access-date=5 October 2022 |archive-date=5 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005184217/https://peopleplacesandthoughts.com/home/2019/5/24/ecuadors-one-and-only-official-currency-is-the-us-dollar |url-status=live }}</ref> The emergence of the Amerindian population as an active constituency has added to the democratic volatility of the country in recent years. The population has been motivated by government failures to deliver on promises of land reform, lower unemployment and provision of social services, and the historical exploitation by the land-holding elite. Their movement, along with the continuing destabilizing efforts by both the elite and leftist movements, has led to a deterioration of the executive office. The populace and the other branches of government give the president very little political capital, as illustrated by the most recent removal of President [[Lucio Gutiérrez]] from office by Congress in April 2005.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ecuador Congress ousts president |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2005/4/21/ecuador-congress-ousts-president |work=Al Jazeera |language=en |access-date=15 August 2022 |archive-date=15 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815073212/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2005/4/21/ecuador-congress-ousts-president |url-status=live }}</ref> Vice President [[Alfredo Palacio]] took his place<ref>{{cite news |last1=Forero |first1=Juan |title=Ecuador's New Chief Picks Cabinet; Leftist in Economic Post |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/22/world/americas/ecuadors-new-chief-picks-cabinet-leftist-in-economic-post.html |work=The New York Times |date=22 April 2005 |access-date=15 August 2022 |archive-date=15 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815075038/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/22/world/americas/ecuadors-new-chief-picks-cabinet-leftist-in-economic-post.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[Ecuadorian general election, 2006|election of 2006]], [[Rafael Correa]] gained the presidency.<ref>{{cite news |title=Leftist rolling to victory in Ecuador's presidential race |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-nov-27-fg-ecuador27-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=27 November 2006 |access-date=15 August 2022 |archive-date=15 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815075038/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-nov-27-fg-ecuador27-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2007, several left-wing political leaders of Latin America, his future allies, attended his swearing-in ceremony.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ecuador's new president sworn in |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2007/1/16/ecuadors-new-president-sworn-in |work=Al Jazeera |language=en |access-date=15 August 2022 |archive-date=15 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815064714/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2007/1/16/ecuadors-new-president-sworn-in |url-status=live }}</ref> Endorsed in a [[2008 Ecuadorian constitutional referendum|2008 referendum]], a [[2008 Constitution of Ecuador|new constitution]] implemented leftist reforms.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ecuador referendum endorses new constitution |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global/2008/sep/29/ecuador |work=The Guardian |date=29 September 2008 |language=en |access-date=15 August 2022 |archive-date=15 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815065412/https://www.theguardian.com/global/2008/sep/29/ecuador |url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2008, Correa declared Ecuador's [[national debt]] illegitimate, based on the argument that it was [[odious debt]] contracted by prior corrupt and despotic regimes. He announced that the country would default on over $3 billion worth of bonds, and he succeeded in reducing the price of outstanding bonds by more than 60% by fighting creditors in [[international court]]s.<ref name="TRN2009Win">''[https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20171010140108/http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=3622 "Avenger against oligarchy" wins in Ecuador]'' [[The Real News]], 27 April 2009.</ref> He brought Ecuador into the [[Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas]] in June 2009. Correa's administration reduced the high levels of poverty and unemployment in Ecuador.<ref name="Romero">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/27/world/americas/27ecuador.html | work=[[The New York Times]] | first=Simon | last=Romero | title=Ecuador Re-elects President, Preliminary Results Show | date=27 April 2009 | access-date=24 February 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627001457/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/27/world/americas/27ecuador.html | archive-date=27 June 2017 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="Most Popular E-mail Newsletter">{{cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2011-05-07-ecuador-referendum_n.htm | work=USA Today | title=Most Popular E-mail Newsletter | date=7 May 2011 | access-date=26 August 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922000423/http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2011-05-07-ecuador-referendum_n.htm | archive-date=22 September 2012 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://voxxi.com/public-spending-fuels-ecuador-leaders-popularity-americas/ |title=Public spending fuels Ecuador leader's popularity |publisher=Voxxi.com |date=25 January 2012 |access-date=4 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512090555/http://www.voxxi.com/public-spending-fuels-ecuador-leaders-popularity-americas/ |archive-date=12 May 2013 }}</ref><ref>[http://neweconomicperspectives.org/2013/02/correas-and-ecuadors-success-drive-the-economist-nuts.html "Correa's and Ecuador's Success drive The Economist Nuts"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416163627/http://neweconomicperspectives.org/2013/02/correas-and-ecuadors-success-drive-the-economist-nuts.html |date=16 April 2015 }}. ''New Economic Perspectives''.</ref><ref> [http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=9717 Correa wins re-election and says banks and mass media don't rule anymore] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318001316/http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=9717 |date=18 March 2015 }}. ''[[The Real News]]''. 19 February 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014. * "Unemployment hit a record low of 4.1 percent at the end of last year. Poverty's down about 27 percent since he took office". – [[Mark Weisbrot]], co-director of [[Center for Economic and Policy Research]] </ref> Correa's three consecutive terms (from 2007 to 2017) were followed by his former Vice President [[Lenín Moreno]]'s four years as president (2017–21). After being elected in 2017, President Moreno's government adopted [[economic liberalism|economically liberal]] policies, such as reduction of [[public spending]], [[trade liberalization]], and flexibility of the labour code. Ecuador also left the left-wing [[Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas]] (Alba) in August 2018.<ref>In August 2018, Ecuador withdrew from Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (Alba), a regional bloc of leftwing governments led by Venezuela.</ref> The Productive Development Act introduced an austerity policy, and reduced the previous development and redistribution policies. Regarding taxes, the authorities aimed to "encourage the return of investors" by granting amnesty to fraudsters and proposing measures to reduce [[Corporate tax|tax rates for large companies]]. In addition, the government waived the right to tax increases in raw material prices and foreign exchange repatriations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article46999|title=Équateur : Lenín Moreno et le néolibéralisme par surprise – Europe Solidaire Sans Frontières|website=www.europe-solidaire.org|access-date=11 July 2019|archive-date=6 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006044917/http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?article46999|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2018, Moreno cut diplomatic relations with the [[Nicolás Maduro|Maduro]] administration of Venezuela, a close ally of Correa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.mercopress.com/2018/10/19/ecuador-venezuela-sever-diplomatic-ties-due-to-improper-accusations|title=Ecuador, Venezuela sever diplomatic ties due to improper accusations|access-date=25 March 2021|archive-date=13 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413195701/https://en.mercopress.com/2018/10/19/ecuador-venezuela-sever-diplomatic-ties-due-to-improper-accusations|url-status=live}}</ref> The relations with the United States improved significantly under Moreno. In June 2019, Ecuador agreed to allow US military planes to operate from an airport on the Galapagos Islands.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 June 2019 |title=Outcry as Ecuador allows US military to use Galapagos airstrip |url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/ecuador-galapagos-us-military-scli-intl/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413195725/https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/ecuador-galapagos-us-military-scli-intl/index.html |archive-date=13 April 2021 |access-date=25 March 2021}}</ref> In February 2020, his visit to Washington was the first meeting between an Ecuadorian and U.S. president in 17 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latinousa.org/2020/02/13/trumpleninmoreno/|title=Trump Receives Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno|date=13 February 2020|access-date=25 March 2021|archive-date=13 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413195854/https://www.latinousa.org/2020/02/13/trumpleninmoreno/|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[2019 Ecuadorian protests|series of protests]] began on 3 October 2019 against the end of fuel [[Subsidy|subsidies]] and [[Austerity|austerity measures]] adopted by Moreno. On 10 October, protesters overran the capital Quito causing the Government of Ecuador to relocate to [[Guayaquil]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/ecuadors-leader-moves-government-seat-clashes-escalate-66134866|title=Protesters move into Ecuador's capital; president moves out|website=ABC News|access-date=10 October 2019|archive-date=10 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010133827/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/ecuadors-leader-moves-government-seat-clashes-escalate-66134866|url-status=live}}</ref> but later returned to Quito.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-09/ecuador-government-returns-to-capital-amid-national-strike?srnd=markets-vp|title=Ecuador Government Returns to Capital Amid National Strike|last=Kueffner|first=tephan|date=10 October 2019|work=Bloomberg|access-date=10 October 2019}}</ref> On 14 October 2019, the government restored fuel subsidies and withdrew an austerity package, which ended nearly two weeks of protests.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ecuador repeals law ending fuel subsidies in deal to stop protests |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50038126 |work=BBC News |date=14 October 2019 |access-date=3 March 2022 |archive-date=3 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303200509/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50038126 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[File:TRANSMISIÓN DE MANDO PRESIDENCIAL (23-11-2023) 05.jpg|thumb|250x250px|Outgoing President [[Guillermo Lasso]] (center) with President-elect [[Daniel Noboa]] (right) at the latter's inauguration in November 2023.]] In the 11 April 2021 [[2021 Ecuadorian general election|election]], conservative former banker [[Guillermo Lasso]] took 52.4% of the vote, compared to 47.6% for left-wing economist [[Andrés Aráuz]], who was supported by exiled former president Correa. Lasso had finished second in the 2013 and 2017 presidential elections.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-56713570|title = Guillermo Lasso: Conservative ex-banker elected Ecuador president|work = BBC News|date = 12 April 2021|access-date = 14 April 2021|archive-date = 14 April 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210414140155/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-56713570|url-status = live}}</ref> On 24 May 2021, Lasso was sworn in, becoming the country's first right-wing leader in 14 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210524-lasso-inaugurated-as-first-right-wing-ecuador-president-in-14-years |title=Lasso inaugurated as first right-wing Ecuador president in 14 years |work=France24 |agency=Agence France Presse |date=24 May 2021 |access-date=19 August 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524195101/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210524-lasso-inaugurated-as-first-right-wing-ecuador-president-in-14-years |archive-date=24 May 2021 }}</ref> Lasso's party [[CREO (Ecuadorian Movement)|CREO]] Movement, and its ally the Social Christian Party (PSC) won only 31 parliamentary seats out of 137, while Aráuz's Union for Hope (UNES) won 49 seats, which meant Lasso needed support from the Izquierda Democrática and the indigenist [[Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement – New Country|Pachakutik]] parties to push through his legislative agenda.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://atalayar.com/en/content/len%C3%ADn-morenos-legacy-guillermo-lasso-ecuador |title=Lenín Moreno's legacy to Guillermo Lasso in Ecuador |work=Atalayar.com |last=García |first=Alberto |date=16 April 2021 |access-date=19 August 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121120130/https://atalayar.com/en/content/len%C3%ADn-morenos-legacy-guillermo-lasso-ecuador |archive-date=21 November 2021 }}</ref> In October 2021, Lasso declared a 60-day state of emergency to combat crime and drug-related violence,<ref>{{cite news |title=Ecuador president declares state of emergency over drug violence |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/19/ecuador-president-declares-state-of-emergency-over-drug-violence |work=Al Jazeera |language=en |access-date=3 March 2022 |archive-date=5 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305020720/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/19/ecuador-president-declares-state-of-emergency-over-drug-violence |url-status=live }}</ref> including the numerous bloody clashes between rival groups in the state prisons.<ref>{{cite news |title=Drug capo among 16 dead in bloody Ecuador prison riot |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/drug-capo-among-16-dead-in-bloody-ecuador-prison-riot/2022/10/04/fc28fee6-443a-11ed-be17-89cbe6b8c0a5_story.html |newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref> Lasso proposed a series of constitutional changes to enhance his government's ability to respond to crime. In a [[2023 Ecuadorian constitutional referendum|referendum]] in February 2023, voters overwhelmingly rejected his proposed changes, which weakened Lasso's political standing.<ref>{{cite web |title="El partido del presidente Lasso ha tenido un desempeño muy deficiente", dice analista |date=6 February 2023 |url=https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/video/referendo-ecuador-elecciones-guillermo-lasso-correismo-sot-cafe/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207011124/https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/video/referendo-ecuador-elecciones-guillermo-lasso-correismo-sot-cafe/ |archive-date=7 February 2023 |accessdate=3 March 2023 |publisher=CNN Español}}</ref> On 15 October 2023, centrist candidate [[Daniel Noboa]] won the premature [[2023 Ecuadorian general election|presidential election]] with 52.3% of the vote against leftist candidate [[Luisa González]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Alvarado |first1=Tara John, Abel |title=Noboa, 35, to become Ecuador's next president following election dominated by spiraling crime |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/15/americas/ecuador-election-gonzalez-noboa-intl-latam/index.html |work=CNN |date=15 October 2023 |language=en |access-date=29 October 2023 |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030144254/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/15/americas/ecuador-election-gonzalez-noboa-intl-latam/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On 23 November 2023, Noboa was sworn in.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Business heir Daniel Noboa sworn in as Ecuador president |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/23/millionaire-daniel-noboa-sworn-in-as-ecuador-president |access-date=24 November 2023 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en |archive-date=24 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231124105427/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/23/millionaire-daniel-noboa-sworn-in-as-ecuador-president |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2024, Noboa declared an "[[2024 Ecuadorian conflict|internal armed conflict]]" against organised crime, in response to the escape of imprisoned leader of the [[Los Choneros]] cartel, [[José Adolfo Macías Villamar]] (also known as "Fito"), and an armed attack at a public television channel.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ecuador declares war on armed gangs after TV station attacked on air |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-67930452 |date=9 January 2024 |access-date=12 January 2024 |archive-date=9 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109235540/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-67930452 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=John |first=Tara |date=9 January 2024 |title=Ecuador declares 'internal armed conflict' as gunmen take over live TV broadcast |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/09/americas/armed-men-interrupt-live-tv-ecuador-intl/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109233303/https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/09/americas/armed-men-interrupt-live-tv-ecuador-intl/index.html |archive-date=9 January 2024 |access-date=10 January 2024 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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