Presidency of Ecuador

Presidency of Ecuador
Post	President of Ecuador
Native name	Presidente del Ecuador
Incumbent	Guillermo Lasso
Incumbentsince	2021-05-24
Style	His Excellency
Residence	Carondelet Palace
Seat	Quito
Appointer	Popular vote
Term length	Four years
Formation	1830
First	Juan José Flores

Presidency of Ecuador The Presidency of Ecuador is the office held by the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Ecuador. Since the republic's formation after the dissolution of Gran Colombia, holders of the office have included military caudillos, liberal reformers, populist leaders, constitutional jurists, and technocratic executives who interacted with institutions such as the National Congress, the National Court of Justice, and regional actors like the Andean Community.

History

The office traces to the breakup of Gran Colombia and the establishment of the Republic of Ecuador under Juan José Flores, whose tenure followed conflicts such as the Battle of Tarqui and negotiations like the Treaty of Guayaquil. Throughout the 19th century, figures including Gabriel García Moreno, Jose Maria Urbina, and Eloy Alfaro alternated amid uprisings like the Revolution of 1845 and interventions by caudillos tied to the Conservative Party (Ecuador) and the Liberal Party (Ecuador). The 20th century saw military juntas, presidents such as Isidro Ayora, Velasco Ibarra, and reformers such as José María Velasco Ibarra who was elected multiple times amid crises like the Julian Revolution and confrontations with the Constitutional Convention. After the 1963 Ecuadorian coup d'état and subsequent military government, the restoration of civilian rule led to presidencies of Jamil Mahuad, Lucio Gutiérrez, and Rafael Correa, each linked to events including the 1999 Ecuador banking crisis, the 2000 Ecuadorian coup d'état, and the adoption of the 2008 Constitution of Ecuador. Recent administrations, including those of Lenín Moreno and Guillermo Lasso, have navigated challenges involving the Organization of American States, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and regional blocs like UNASUR and the Pacific Alliance.

Powers and responsibilities

Constitutional powers derive from the 2008 Constitution of Ecuador and later reforms, vesting authority in areas such as foreign policy with counterparts like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ecuador), national security in coordination with the Ministry of National Defense (Ecuador), and fiscal policy alongside the Ministry of Economy and Finance (Ecuador). The president appoints cabinet members including the Minister of Government (Ecuador), the Minister of Labor (Ecuador), and the Minister of Education (Ecuador), and interacts with the Constitutional Court of Ecuador and the National Assembly (Ecuador) on legislative initiatives, emergency decrees, and state of exception measures. Responsibilities include representing Ecuador at multilateral fora such as the United Nations, negotiating bilateral treaties with countries like Colombia, Peru, and United States, and overseeing agencies including the Superintendencia de Bancos and the Servicio Nacional de Contratación Pública.

Election and succession

Presidential elections follow procedures established by the National Electoral Council (Ecuador) and the Electoral Code of Ecuador, with candidates from parties like PAIS Alliance, CREO, Social Christian Party (Ecuador), and coalitions competing in rounds determined by vote percentages. The vice president, elected on a joint ticket as with Lenín Moreno and predecessors, succeeds under conditions specified in the constitution; succession events have involved the National Congress (Ecuador) and instances of temporary transfer to figures such as the President of the National Assembly (Ecuador). Impeachment and removal processes have entailed involvement by the Judicial Council (Ecuador), the Attorney General of Ecuador, and the Electoral Tribunal in contested transitions like those following the 2000 Ecuadorian coup d'état and the political crisis of 2005 Ecuadorian coup d'état.

Organization of the presidency

The executive branch centers on the Carondelet Palace seat in Quito and comprises offices such as the Presidential Cabinet of Ecuador, the Legal Secretariat of the Presidency, and advisory bodies including the National Security Council (Ecuador). The presidential administration integrates agencies like the Secretariat of Communication and the Secretariat of Public Administration, while special envoys liaise with institutions such as the Central Bank of Ecuador and state companies including Petroecuador and the Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social. Provincial coordination engages prefects and municipal mayors from provinces like Pichincha, Guayas, and Azuay, and the presidency maintains ceremonial relations with cultural institutions like the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana and academic bodies such as the Central University of Ecuador.

Notable presidencies and political impact

Some presidencies have had outsized influence: Gabriel García Moreno centralized authority and fostered ties with the Catholic Church, while Eloy Alfaro implemented liberal reforms and railroad construction linked to the Trans-Andean Railway. The multi-term populist José María Velasco Ibarra shaped presidential precedent through his phrase "Give me life" and repeated returns to power. The late 20th century saw technocrats like Osvaldo Hurtado and Sixto Durán Ballén confront economic restructuring and debt negotiations with institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, while Jamil Mahuad presided during dollarization debates following the 1999 Ecuador banking crisis. The 21st century featured the Citizens' Revolution under Rafael Correa, marked by constitutional overhaul, state investment via Corporación Financiera Nacional (CFN), and tensions with media groups and the Organization of American States, followed by centrists and conservatives such as Lenín Moreno and Guillermo Lasso who realigned policy toward market measures, security pacts with Colombia against FARC remnants, and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.

Constitutional controversies and impeachment

Ecuadorian presidencies have faced constitutional disputes involving the Constitutional Court of Ecuador, the National Assembly (Ecuador), and the Supreme Court of Justice (Ecuador) in cases like the impeachment of Lucio Gutiérrez and the ouster movements against Abdalá Bucaram and other executives amid accusations involving the Attorney General of Ecuador and allegations of corruption tied to state enterprises. The 2008 Constitution of Ecuador introduced mechanisms for referenda, recall votes, and the Council for Citizen Participation and Social Control, which played roles in controversies during the Correa administration and the subsequent governance of Lenín Moreno. Recent impeachment inquiries have referenced investigations by the Procuraduría General del Estado and judicial actions coordinated with international bodies including the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Category:Politics of Ecuador