List of presidents of Ecuador

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.^[1]

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).^[2]

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'état, 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.^[1] 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

Presidents of the State of Ecuador (1830–1835)
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Political party		Elected	Ref.
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Political party		Elected	Ref.
—		Juan José Flores (1800–1864)	3 May 1830	14 August 1830	103 days		Independent	—
1		Juan José Flores (1800–1864)	14 August 1830	10 September 1834	4 years, 27 days		Independent	1830
2		Vicente Rocafuerte (1783–1847)	10 September 1834	8 August 1835	332 days		Independent	—
Presidents of the Republic of Ecuador (1835–present)
(2)		Vicente Rocafuerte (1783–1847)	8 August 1835	31 January 1839	3 years, 176 days		Independent	1835
(1)		Juan José Flores (1800–1864)	1 February 1839	6 March 1845 (deposed)	6 years, 136 days		Independent	1839 1843
—		José Joaquín de Olmedo (1780–1847) President of the triumvirate	6 March 1845	8 December 1845	174 days		Independent	—
3		Vicente Ramón Roca (1792–1858)	8 December 1845	15 October 1849	3 years, 311 days		Independent	1843
—		Manuel de Ascásubi (1804–1876) acting	15 October 1849	7 December 1850	1 year, 53 days		Independent	—
—		Diego Noboa (1789–1870)	8 December 1850	25 February 1851	79 days		Independent	—
4		Diego Noboa (1789–1870)	25 February 1851	12 September 1851	199 days		Independent	1851
5		José María Urvina (1808–1891)	24 July 1851	17 July 1852	359 days		Independent	—
5		José María Urvina (1808–1891)	17 July 1852	15 October 1856	4 years, 90 days		Independent	1852
6		Francisco Robles (1811–1893)	16 October 1856	31 August 1859	2 years, 319 days		Independent	1856
—		Gabriel García Moreno (1821–1875)	17 January 1861	2 April 1861	75 days		Conservative Party	—
7		Gabriel García Moreno (1821–1875)	2 April 1861	30 August 1865	4 years, 150 days		Conservative Party	1861
—		Rafael Carvajal (1818–1881) acting	31 August 1865	7 September 1865	7 days		Conservative Party	—
8		Jerónimo Carrión (1804–1873)	7 September 1865	6 November 1867	2 years, 60 days		Conservative Party	1865
—		Pedro José de Arteta (1797–1873) acting	7 November 1867	20 January 1868	74 days		Conservative Party	—
9		Javier Espinosa (1815–1870)	20 January 1868	19 January 1869	365 days		Conservative Party	1868
—		Gabriel García Moreno (1821–1875) acting	19 January 1869	19 May 1869	120 days		Conservative Party	—
—		Manuel de Ascásubi (1804–1876) acting	19 May 1869	10 August 1869	83 days		Conservative Party	—
(7)		Gabriel García Moreno (1821–1875)	10 August 1869	6 August 1875 †	5 years, 361 days		Conservative Party	1869 1875 (May)
—		Francisco Xavier León (1832–1880) acting	6 August 1875	15 September 1875	40 days		Conservative Party	—
—		José Javier Eguiguren (1816–1884) acting	15 September 1875	9 December 1875	85 days		Conservative Party	—
10		Antonio Borrero (1827–1911)	9 December 1875	18 December 1876	1 year, 9 days		Conservative Party	1875 (Oct.)
11		Ignacio de Veintemilla (1828–1908)	18 December 1876	26 January 1878	1 year, 39 days		Military	—
			21 April 1878	26 March 1882	3 years, 339 days			1878
			26 March 1882	9 July 1883	1 year, 105 days			—
—		Luis Cordero Crespo (1833–1912) Government of the Restoration	1 July 1892	16 April 1895	2 years, 289 days		Republican Union Party	—
—		José Plácido Caamaño (1837–1900)	15 October 1883	10 February 1884	118 days		Conservative Party	—
12		José Plácido Caamaño (1837–1900)	10 February 1884	30 June 1888	4 years, 141 days		Conservative Party	1884
—		Pedro José Cevallos (1830–1892) acting	1 July 1888	17 August 1888	47 days		Conservative Party	—
13		Antonio Flores Jijón (1833–1915)	17 August 1888	10 June 1892	3 years, 298 days		Republican Union Party	1888
14		Luis Cordero Crespo (1833–1912)	1 July 1892	16 April 1895	2 years, 289 days		Republican Union Party	1892
—		Vicente Lucio Salazar (1832–1896) acting	16 April 1895	5 June 1895	50 days		Conservative Party	—
15		Eloy Alfaro (1842–1912)	5 June 1895	9 October 1896	1 year, 126 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	—
15		Eloy Alfaro (1842–1912)	9 October 1896	31 August 1901	4 years, 326 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	1897
16		Leónidas Plaza (1865–1932)	1 September 1901	31 August 1905	3 years, 364 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	1901
17		Lizardo García (1844–1937)	1 September 1905	15 January 1906	136 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	1905
(15)		Eloy Alfaro (1842–1912)	16 January 1906	9 October 1906	266 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	—
(15)		Eloy Alfaro (1842–1912)	9 October 1906	11 August 1911	4 years, 306 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	1906
—		Carlos Freile Zaldumbide (1851–1928) acting	11 August 1911	31 August 1911	20 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	—
18		Emilio Estrada (1855–1911)	1 September 1911	21 December 1911	111 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	1911
—		Carlos Freile Zaldumbide (1851–1928) acting	22 December 1911	5 March 1912	74 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	—
—		Francisco Andrade Marín (1841–1935) acting	6 March 1912	1 August 1912	148 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	—
—		Alfredo Baquerizo (1859–1951) acting	1 August 1912	1 September 1912	31 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	—
(16)		Leónidas Plaza (1865–1932)	1 September 1912	31 August 1916	3 years, 364 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	1912
19		Alfredo Baquerizo (1859–1951)	1 September 1916	31 August 1920	3 years, 364 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	1916
20		José Luis Tamayo (1858–1947)	1 September 1920	31 August 1924	3 years, 364 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	1920
21		Gonzalo Córdova (1863–1928)	1 September 1924	9 July 1925	311 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	1924
		First Provisional Government collective leadership	10 July 1925	6 January 1926	180 days			—
		Second Provisional Government collective leadership	10 January 1926	31 March 1926	80 days			—
—		Isidro Ayora (1879–1978)	3 April 1926	17 April 1929	3 years, 14 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	—
22		Isidro Ayora (1879–1978)	17 April 1929	24 August 1931	2 years, 129 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	1929
—		Luis Larrea Alba (1894–1979) acting	24 August 1931	15 October 1931	52 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	—
—		Alfredo Baquerizo (1859–1951) acting	15 October 1931	28 August 1932	318 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	—
—		Carlos Freile Larrea (1876–1942) acting	28 August 1932	1 September 1932	4 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	—
—		Alberto Guerrero Martínez (1878–1941) acting	2 September 1932	4 December 1932	93 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	—
23		Juan de Dios Martínez (1875–1955)	5 December 1932	19 October 1933	318 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	1932
—		Abelardo Montalvo (1876–1950) acting	20 October 1933	31 August 1934	315 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	—
24		José María Velasco Ibarra (1893–1979)	1 September 1934	21 August 1935	354 days		Independent	1934
—		Antonio Pons (1897–1980) acting	21 August 1935	25 September 1935	35 days		Conservative Party	—
—		Federico Páez (1877–1974) Jefe Supremo	26 September 1935	23 October 1937	2 years, 27 days		Independent	—
—		Alberto Enríquez Gallo (1894–1962) Jefe Supremo	23 October 1937	10 August 1938	291 days		Military	—
—		Manuel María Borrero (1883–1975) acting	10 August 1938	1 December 1938	113 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	—
25		Aurelio Mosquera (1883–1939)	2 December 1938	17 November 1939	350 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	1938
—		Carlos Alberto Arroyo del Río (1893–1969) acting	18 November 1939	10 December 1939	22 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	—
—		Andrés Córdova (1892–1983) acting	11 December 1939	10 August 1940	243 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	—
—		Julio Enrique Moreno (1879–1952) acting	10 August 1940	31 August 1940	21 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	—
26		Carlos Alberto Arroyo del Río (1893–1969)	1 September 1940	28 May 1944	3 years, 270 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	1940
—		Julio Teodoro Salem (1900–1968) acting	29 May 1944	31 May 1944	2 days		Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	—
(24)		José María Velasco Ibarra (1893–1979)	1 June 1944	23 August 1947	3 years, 83 days		Independent	1944 1946
—		Carlos Mancheno Cajas (1902–1996) Jefe Supremo	23 August 1947	2 September 1947	10 days		Military	—
27		Mariano Suárez Veintimilla (1897–1980)	2 September 1947	17 September 1947	15 days		Conservative Party	1946
28		C. J. Arosemena Tola (1888–1952)	17 September 1947	31 August 1948	349 days		Independent	1947
29		Galo Plaza (1906–1987)	1 September 1948	31 August 1952	3 years, 364 days		National Democratic Civic Movement	1948
(24)		José María Velasco Ibarra (1893–1979)	1 September 1952	31 August 1956	3 years, 364 days		Velaquista National Federation	1952
30		Camilo Ponce Enríquez (1912–1976)	1 September 1956	31 August 1960	3 years, 364 days		Social Christian Party	1956
(24)		José María Velasco Ibarra (1893–1979)	1 September 1960	7 November 1961	1 year, 67 days		Velaquista National Federation	1960
31		C. J. Arosemena Monroy (1919–2004)	7 November 1961	11 July 1963	1 year, 246 days		Independent	—
—		Admiral Ramón Castro Jijón (1915–1984) Chairman of the Military Junta of 1963	11 July 1963	29 March 1966	2 years, 261 days		Military	—
—		Clemente Yerovi (1904–1981) acting	30 March 1966	16 November 1966	231 days		Institutionalist Democratic Coalition	—
—		Otto Arosemena (1925–1984)	16 November 1966	25 May 1967	190 days		Institutionalist Democratic Coalition	—
32		Otto Arosemena (1925–1984)	25 May 1967	31 August 1968	1 year, 98 days		Institutionalist Democratic Coalition	—
(24)		José María Velasco Ibarra (1893–1979)	1 September 1968	15 February 1972	3 years, 167 days		Velaquista National Federation	1968
—		General Guillermo Rodríguez Lara (born 1923) Chairman of the Council of Government	15 February 1972	11 January 1976	3 years, 330 days		Military	—	^[3]
—		Vice Admiral Alfredo Poveda (1926–1990) President of the Supreme Council of Government	11 January 1976	10 August 1979	3 years, 211 days		Military	—
33		Jaime Roldós Aguilera (1940–1981)	10 August 1979	24 May 1981	1 year, 287 days		Concentration of People's Forces	1979
34		Osvaldo Hurtado (born 1939)	24 May 1981	10 August 1984	3 years, 78 days		Popular Democracy	—
35		León Febres Cordero (1931–2008)	10 August 1984	10 August 1988	4 years		Social Christian Party	1984
36		Rodrigo Borja Cevallos (born 1935)	10 August 1988	10 August 1992	4 years		Democratic Left	1988
37		Sixto Durán Ballén (1921–2016)	10 August 1992	10 August 1996	4 years		Republican Unity Party	1992
38		Abdalá Bucaram (born 1952)	10 August 1996	6 February 1997	180 days		Ecuadorian Roldosist Party	1996
—		Fabián Alarcón (born 1947) acting	6 February 1997	9 August 1998	3 days		Alfarista Radical Front	—	^[4]
39		Rosalía Arteaga (born 1956)	9 February 1997	11 February 1997	2 days		MIRA Movement	—	^[5]
40		Fabián Alarcón (born 1947)	11 February 1997	10 August 1998	1 year, 180 days		Alfarista Radical Front	—
41		Jamil Mahuad (born 1949)	10 August 1998	21 January 2000 (deposed)	1 year, 164 days		Popular Democracy	1998	^[6]
42		Gustavo Noboa (1937–2021)	22 January 2000	15 January 2003	2 years, 358 days		Independent	—
43		Lucio Gutiérrez (born 1957)	15 January 2003	20 April 2005	2 years, 95 days		Patriotic Society Party	2002
44		Alfredo Palacio (born 1939)	20 April 2005	15 January 2007	1 year, 270 days		Independent	—
45		Rafael Correa (born 1963)	15 January 2007	24 May 2017	10 years, 129 days		PAIS Alliance	2006 2009 2013
46		Lenín Moreno (born 1953)	24 May 2017	24 May 2021	4 years		PAIS Alliance	2017
47		Guillermo Lasso (born 1955)	24 May 2021	23 November 2023	2 years, 183 days		Creating Opportunities	2021
48		Daniel Noboa (born 1987)	23 November 2023	Incumbent	364 days		National Democratic Action	2023

Timeline

Rival governments in rebellion

Name	Began	Ended	Title(s)
Vicente Rocafuerte	20 October 1833	July 1834	Jefe Supremo of the Department of the Guayas
José Félix Valdivieso	13 July 1834	18 January 1835	Jefe Supremo
José Joaquín de Olmedo	6 March 1845	18 June 1845	President of the Provisional Government
Antonio de Elizalde	March 1850	1850	Jefe Supremo
Diego Noboa	20 February 1850	10 June 1850	Jefe Supremo
José María Urvina	13 July 1851	17 July 1851	Jefe Supremo
Provisional Government	1 May 1859	4 June 1859	Members: Gabriel García Moreno (from May 25) Manuel Gómez de la Torre (to May 25) José María Avilés Pacífico Chiriboga
Jerónimo Carrión	6 June 1859	1859
Gabriel García Moreno	4 June 1859	17 September 1861	Jefe Supremo
Guillermo Franco	17 September 1859	24 September 1860	Jefe Supremo of Guayas and Azuay
Fernando Daquilema	18 de diciembre de 1871	8 de abril de 1872	King Shyri XVII
Ignacio de Veintemilla	8 September 1876	19 December 1876	Jefe Supremo
Eloy Alfaro	February 1883	11 October 1883	Jefe Supremo of Manabí and Esmeraldas
Provisional Government	14 January 1883	9 July 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	17 September 1883	11 October 1883	Jefe Supremo of Guayas
Eloy Alfaro	19 June 1895	23 August 1895	Jefe Supremo
Flavio E. Alfaro Santana	22 December 1911	January 1912
Pedro Jacinto Montero Maridueña	28 December 1911	21 January 1912

References

^ ^a ^b Simón Espinoza (2000). Presidents of Ecuador. Editorial Vistazo
^ Supreme Electoral Tribunal. Elections and Democracy in Ecuador (1989). TSE
^ "Military Junta Imposes Curfew And Tight Controls in Ecuador". New York Times. 17 February 1972. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
^ "Chronology of the fall of Abdalá Bucaram (December 1 1996 - February 6 1997)" (PDF).
^ Goering, Laurie (9 February 1997). "Ecuador Crisis: 3 Presidents, Only 1 Job". Chicago Tribune. chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
^ Barracca, Steven 'Military coups in the post-cold war era: Pakistan, Ecuador and Venezuela', Third World Quarterly, 28:1, 137 - 154

[Simón_Espinoza_1-1] Simón Espinoza (2000). Presidents of Ecuador. Editorial Vistazo

[2] Supreme Electoral Tribunal. Elections and Democracy in Ecuador (1989). TSE

[3] "Military Junta Imposes Curfew And Tight Controls in Ecuador". New York Times. 17 February 1972. Retrieved 11 November 2023.

[4] "Chronology of the fall of Abdalá Bucaram (December 1 1996 - February 6 1997)" (PDF).

[5] Goering, Laurie (9 February 1997). "Ecuador Crisis: 3 Presidents, Only 1 Job". Chicago Tribune. chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 11 November 2023.

[Barraca-6] Barracca, Steven 'Military coups in the post-cold war era: Pakistan, Ecuador and Venezuela', Third World Quarterly, 28:1, 137 - 154

[1]

[2]

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v t e Presidents of Ecuador
	Juan José Flores Vicente Rocafuerte Juan José Flores José Joaquín de Olmedo Vicente Ramón Roca Manuel de Ascásubi Diego Noboa José María Urvina Francisco Robles Gabriel García Moreno Rafael Carvajal Jerónimo Carrión Pedro José de Arteta Javier Espinosa Gabriel García Moreno Manuel de Ascásubi Gabriel García Moreno Francisco León Franco José Javier Eguiguren Antonio Borrero Ignacio de Veintemilla Provisional Government José María Sarasti Luis Cordero Crespo Rafael Pérez Pareja Agustín Guerrero Pedro Ignacio Lizarzaburu José Plácido Caamaño Pedro José Cevallos Antonio Flores Jijón Luis Cordero Crespo Vicente Lucio Salazar Eloy Alfaro Leónidas Plaza Lizardo García Eloy Alfaro Carlos Freile Zaldumbide Emilio Estrada Carlos Freile Zaldumbide Francisco Andrade Marín Alfredo Baquerizo Leónidas Plaza Alfredo Baquerizo José Luis Tamayo Gonzalo Córdova First Provisional Government Luis Telmo Paz y Miño Luis Napoleón Dillon Pedro Pablo Garaycoa Francisco Gómez de la Torre José Rafael Bustamante Modesto Larrea Jijón Francisco Arízaga Luque Moisés Oliva Second Provisional Government Humberto Albornoz Julio Enrique Moreno Isidro Ayora Isidro Ayora Luis Larrea Alba Alfredo Baquerizo Carlos Freile Larrea Alberto Guerrero Martínez Juan de Dios Martínez Abelardo Montalvo José María Velasco Ibarra Antonio Pons Federico Páez Alberto Enríquez Gallo Benigno Andrade Flores Manuel María Borrero Aurelio Mosquera Carlos Alberto Arroyo del Río Andrés Córdova Julio Enrique Moreno Carlos Alberto Arroyo del Río Julio Teodoro Salem José María Velasco Ibarra Carlos Mancheno Cajas Mariano Suárez Carlos Julio Arosemena Tola Galo Plaza José María Velasco Ibarra Camilo Ponce Enríquez José María Velasco Ibarra Carlos Julio Arosemena Monroy Military Junta of 1963 Ramón Castro Jijón Clemente Yerovi Otto Arosemena José María Velasco Ibarra Guillermo Rodríguez Supreme Council of Government Alfredo Poveda Jaime Roldós Aguilera Osvaldo Hurtado León Febres Cordero Rodrigo Borja Cevallos Sixto Durán Ballén Abdalá Bucaram Rosalía Arteaga Fabián Alarcón Jamil Mahuad Gustavo Noboa Lucio Gutiérrez Alfredo Palacio Rafael Correa Lenín Moreno Guillermo Lasso Daniel Noboa
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