Lenin Moreno

Lenin Moreno
CorteIDH · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	Lenín Moreno
Birth date	1953-03-19
Birth place	Nuevo Rocafuerte, Orellana Province, Ecuador
Office	President of Ecuador
Term start	2017-05-24
Term end	2021-05-24
Predecessor	Rafael Correa
Successor	Guillermo Lasso
Vice president	Jorge Glas
Party	Alianza PAIS (formerly), Movimiento RENACER (later)
Alma mater	Central University of Ecuador, Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil
Spouse	Rocío González (separated)
Occupation	Politician, diplomat

Lenin Moreno

Lenín Moreno is an Ecuadorian politician and diplomat who served as President of Ecuador from 2017 to 2021. A former Vice President under Rafael Correa and a paraplegic survivor of an assassination attempt, he became internationally known for his work with the United Nations on disability issues and for initiating a political realignment in Ecuador that shifted relations with regional actors such as Venezuela and United States allies. His presidency was marked by austerity measures, changes in security policy, and multiple investigations by national institutions including the Attorney General of Ecuador and the National Assembly of Ecuador.

Early life and education

Lenín Moreno was born in Nuevo Rocafuerte, Orellana Province, Ecuador, and raised in Ambato, Tungurahua Province, where he attended local schools before studying at the Central University of Ecuador and the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil. He began a career in public service and social programs that connected him to organizations such as the United Nations, where he served as Special Envoy on Disability and Accessibility and engaged with bodies including the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization. His personal experience after a 1998 attack that resulted in paraplegia influenced collaborations with UNICEF initiatives and advocacy campaigns linked to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Political career

Moreno entered national politics as Vice President of Ecuador from 2007 to 2013 under President Rafael Correa, holding office during interactions with institutions such as the Constituent Assembly of Ecuador and the National Electoral Council (Ecuador). He oversaw social programs tied to ministries including the Ministry of Public Health (Ecuador) and the Ministry of Social Development and Inclusion. During his vice presidency he worked with international partners like the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank on projects affecting provinces such as Pichincha and Guayas. After leaving the vice presidency, he served in roles affiliated with the United Nations and established networks with civil society organizations including Fundación Malecón 2000 and disability advocacy groups.

Presidency (2017–2021)

Elected in 2017 as the candidate of Alianza PAIS, Moreno succeeded Rafael Correa and faced immediate challenges involving fiscal policy debated in the National Assembly of Ecuador, security matters tied to criminal networks such as those affecting Guayaquil, and relations with regional blocs including the Union of South American Nations and the Organization of American States. His administration included ministers drawn from institutions such as the Ministry of Finance (Ecuador), the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the Ministry of Defense (Ecuador). Key events during his term included engagement with the International Monetary Fund, responses to prison riots that involved coordination with the National Police of Ecuador and the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ecuador), and the decision to remove asylum protections from individuals linked to international disputes such as those involving Julian Assange and the Embassy of Ecuador in London.

Domestic policy and governance

Moreno implemented fiscal adjustments negotiated with financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund and pursued reforms involving agencies such as the Superintendencia de Bancos and the Contraloría General del Estado. His administration enacted measures affecting energy sectors interacting with companies including Petroecuador and regulatory bodies such as the Ministerio de Energía y Recursos Naturales No Renovables. Security policy reforms targeted prison systems overseen by the Ministry of Government (Ecuador), and public spending cuts impacted programs linked to the Ministry of Education (Ecuador) and the Ministry of Public Health (Ecuador). Legislative initiatives required negotiation with parties represented in the National Assembly of Ecuador and with political figures from movements including CREO and Pachakutik.

Foreign policy and international relations

Moreno reoriented Ecuadorian foreign policy, altering ties with countries and institutions such as Venezuela, Cuba, United States, China, and the European Union. He withdrew withdrawal from some regional alignments with the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) and pursued rapprochement with the United States Department of State and multilateral lenders including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. His government handled high-profile diplomatic issues involving the Embassy of Ecuador in London and the case of Julian Assange, while negotiating bilateral agreements on investment with actors like PetroChina and development banks such as the Inter-American Development Bank.

Controversies and investigations

Moreno's presidency faced probes by institutions including the Attorney General of Ecuador and the Comptroller General of the State into alleged irregularities related to contracts, procurement with firms tied to provinces such as Guayas, and dealings involving advisors connected to political groups including former members of Alianza PAIS. Parliamentarians in the National Assembly of Ecuador opened inquiries into actions taken by ministries and state companies such as Petroecuador and alleged espionage claims that involved security agencies and the National Intelligence Secretariat (Senain). International media scrutiny and reports by organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International also examined measures affecting civil liberties and detainee treatment during his term.

Personal life and health

Moreno experienced a 1998 armed attack in Quevedo that left him paraplegic and dependent on a wheelchair, influencing his advocacy with organizations such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations disability initiatives. He married Rocío González and has three children; the couple later separated. Health matters during and after his presidency involved consultations with medical centers including facilities in Quito and private clinics used by public figures such as former presidents, and routine interactions with public institutions like the Ministry of Public Health (Ecuador).

Category:Presidents of Ecuador Category:Ecuadorian politicians Category:1953 births Category:Living people