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'etat, 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] Dr. 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

No.	Picture	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office		Party	Title(s)
1		Juan José Flores (1800–1864)	May 3, 1830	September 10, 1834	Independent	Jefe Supremo (May 3, 1830 – August 14, 1830) Provisional President (August 14, 1830 – September 22, 1830) President (September 22, 1830 – September 10, 1834)
2		Vicente Rocafuerte (1783–1847)	September 10, 1834	January 31, 1839	Independent	Jefe Supremo of Guayas (September 10, 1834 – June 22, 1835) Jefe Supremo Chief of the State (June 22, 1835 – August 8, 1835) President (August 8, 1835 – January 31, 1839)
(1)		Juan José Flores (1800–1864)	February 1, 1839	March 6, 1845	Independent	President (February 1, 1839 – January 15, 1843) Provisional President (January 15, 1843 – April 1, 1843) President (April 1, 1843 – March 6, 1845)
—		José Joaquín de Olmedo (1780–1847)	March 7, 1845	December 8, 1845	Independent	Head of Provisional Government
3		Vicente Ramón Roca (1792–1858)	December 8, 1845	October 15, 1849	Independent	President
—		Manuel de Ascásubi (1804–1876)	October 15, 1849	December 7, 1850	Independent	Interim President
4		Diego Noboa (1789–1870)	December 8, 1850	September 12, 1851	Independent	Interim President (December 8, 1850 – February 25, 1851) President (February 26, 1851 – September 13, 1851)
5		José María Urvina (1808–1891)	July 24, 1851	October 15, 1856	Independent	Jefe Supremo (July 24, 1851 – July 17, 1852) Interim President (July 17, 1852 – September 6, 1852) President (September 6, 1852 – October 15, 1856)
6		Francisco Robles (1811–1893)	October 16, 1856	August 31, 1859	Independent	President
		Governments of the Crisis
		Provisional Government of Quito	September 4, 1859	January 10, 1861		Members: Gabriel García Moreno Jerónimo Carrión Plácido Chiriboga Rafael Carvajal
		Government of Cuenca	May 6, 1859	November 13, 1859		Leaders: Jerónimo Carrión (May 6, 1859 – 7 May 1859) Francisco Robles and Guillermo Franco (May 8, 1859 – September 27, 1859) Ramón Borrero (September 27, 1859 – November 13, 1859; with Quito)
		Supreme Leadership of Guayas	August 21, 1859	September 24, 1860		Leader: Guillermo Franco
		Cañar and Azuay (with Guayas)	November 13, 1859	March 3, 1860		Leader: Mariano Moreno
		Federal Government of Loja	September 18, 1859	March 23, 1860		Leader: Manuel Carrión Pinzano
7		Gabriel García Moreno (1821–1875)	January 17, 1861	August 30, 1865	Conservative Party	Interim President (January 17, 1861 – April 2, 1861) President (April 2, 1861 – August 30, 1865)
—		Rafael Carvajal (1818–1881)	August 31, 1865	September 7, 1865	Conservative Party	Acting President
8		Jerónimo Carrión (1804–1873)	September 7, 1865	November 6, 1867	Conservative Party	President
—		Pedro José de Arteta (1797–1873)	November 7, 1867	January 20, 1868	Conservative Party	Acting President
9		Javier Espinosa (1815–1870)	January 20, 1868	January 19, 1869	Conservative Party	President
—		Gabriel García Moreno (1821–1875)	January 19, 1869	May 19, 1869	Conservative Party	Interim President
—		Manuel de Ascásubi (1804–1876)	May 19, 1869	August 10, 1869	Conservative Party	Interim President
(7)		Gabriel García Moreno (1821–1875)	August 10, 1869	August 6, 1875	Conservative Party	President
—		Francisco Xavier León (1832–1880)	August 6, 1875	September 15, 1875	Conservative Party	Interim President
—		José Javier Eguiguren (1816–1884)	September 15, 1875	December 9, 1875	Conservative Party	Interim President
10		Antonio Borrero (1827–1911)	December 9, 1875	September 8, 1876	Conservative Party	President
11		Ignacio de Veintemilla (1828–1908)	September 8, 1876	January 10, 1883	Military	Jefe Supremo (September 8, 1876 – January 26, 1878) President (April 21, 1878 – March 26, 1882) Jefe Supremo (March 26, 1882 – January 10, 1883)
		Governments of the Restoration
		"Pentevirato Quiteño"	January 14, 1883	October 15, 1883		Members: José María Plácido Caamaño Luis Cordero Agustín Guerrero Pedro Lizarzaburu Rafael Pérez Pareja
		Supreme Leadership of Manabí and Esmeraldas	June 5, 1883	October 15, 1883		Leader: Eloy Alfaro
		Supreme Leadership of Guayas	July 10, 1883	October 15, 1883		Leader: Pedro Carbo
12		José Plácido Caamaño (1837–1900)	October 15, 1883	June 30, 1888	Conservative Party	Interim President (October 15, 1883 – February 10, 1884) President (February 10, 1884 – June 30, 1888)
—		Pedro José Cevallos (1830–1892)	July 1, 1888	August 17, 1888	Conservative Party	Acting President
13		Antonio Flores Jijón (1833–1915)	August 17, 1888	June 10, 1892	Republican Union Party	President
14		Luis Cordero Crespo (1833–1912)	July 1, 1892	April 16, 1895	Republican Union Party	President
—		Vicente Lucio Salazar (1832–1896)	April 16, 1895	June 5, 1895	Conservative Party	Acting President
15		Eloy Alfaro (1842–1912)	June 5, 1895	August 31, 1901	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	Jefe Supremo (June 5, 1895 – October 9, 1896) Interim President (October 9, 1896 – January 17, 1897) President (January 17, 1897 – August 31, 1901)
16		Leónidas Plaza (1865–1932)	September 1, 1901	August 31, 1905	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	President
17		Lizardo García (1844–1937)	September 1, 1905	January 15, 1906	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	President
(15)		Eloy Alfaro (1842–1912)	January 16, 1906	August 11, 1911	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	Jefe Supremo (January 16, 1906 – October 9, 1906) Interim President (October 9, 1906 – January 1, 1907) President (January 1, 1907 – August 11, 1911)
—		Carlos Freile Zaldumbide (1851–1928)	August 11, 1911	August 31, 1911	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	Acting President
18		Emilio Estrada (1855–1911)	September 1, 1911	December 21, 1911	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	President
—		Carlos Freile Zaldumbide (1851–1928)	December 22, 1911	March 5, 1912	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	Acting President
—		Francisco Andrade Marín (1841–1935)	March 6, 1912	August 1, 1912	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	Acting President
—		Alfredo Baquerizo (1859–1951)	August 1, 1912	September 1, 1912	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	Acting President
(16)		Leónidas Plaza (1865–1932)	September 1, 1912	August 31, 1916	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	President
19		Alfredo Baquerizo (1859–1951)	September 1, 1916	August 31, 1920	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	President
20		José Luis Tamayo (1858–1947)	September 1, 1920	August 31, 1924	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	President
21		Gonzalo Córdova (1863–1928)	September 1, 1924	July 9, 1925	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	President
		First Provisional Government	July 10, 1925	January 6, 1926
		Second Provisional Government	January 10, 1926	March 31, 1926
22		Isidro Ayora (1879–1978)	April 3, 1926	August 24, 1931	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	Interim President (April 6, 1926 – April 17, 1929) President (April 17, 1929 – August 24, 1931)
—		Luis Larrea Alba (1894–1979)	August 24, 1931	October 15, 1931	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	Minister of Government
—		Alfredo Baquerizo (1859–1951)	October 15, 1931	August 28, 1932	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	President of the Senate
—		Carlos Freile Larrea (1876–1942)	August 28, 1932	September 1, 1932	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	Minister of Government
—		Alberto Guerrero Martínez (1878–1941)	September 2, 1932	December 4, 1932	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	President of the Senate
23		Juan de Dios Martínez (1875–1955)	December 5, 1932	October 19, 1933	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	President
—		Abelardo Montalvo (1876–1950)	October 20, 1933	August 31, 1934	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	Acting President
24		José María Velasco Ibarra (1893–1979)	September 1, 1934	August 21, 1935	Conservative Party	President
—		Antonio Pons (1897–1980)	August 21, 1935	September 25, 1935	Conservative Party	Acting President
—		Federico Páez (1877–1974)	September 26, 1935	October 23, 1937	Ecuadorian Socialist Party	Jefe Supremo
—		Alberto Enríquez Gallo (1894–1962)	October 23, 1937	August 10, 1938	Ecuadorian Socialist Party	Jefe Supremo
—		Manuel María Borrero (1883–1975)	August 10, 1938	December 1, 1938	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	Interim President
25		Aurelio Mosquera (1883–1939)	December 2, 1938	November 17, 1939	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	President
—		Carlos Alberto Arroyo del Río (1893–1969)	November 18, 1939	December 10, 1939	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	Acting President
—		Andrés Córdova (1892–1983)	December 11, 1939	August 10, 1940	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	Acting President
—		Julio Enrique Moreno (1879–1952)	August 10, 1940	August 31, 1940	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	Acting President
26		Carlos Alberto Arroyo del Río (1893–1969)	September 1, 1940	May 28, 1944	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	President
—		Julio Teodoro Salem (1900–1968)	May 29, 1944	May 31, 1944	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	Acting President
(24)		José María Velasco Ibarra (1893–1979)	June 1, 1944	August 23, 1947	Conservative Party	President of the Republic (June 1, 1944 – August 10, 1944) Constitutional President (August 10, 1944 – March 30, 1946) President of the Republic (March 30, 1946 – August 10, 1946) Constitutional President (August 10, 1946 – August 23, 1947)
—		Carlos Mancheno Cajas (1902–1996)	August 23, 1947	September 2, 1947	Military	Jefe Supremo
27		Mariano Suárez Veintimilla (1897–1980)	September 2, 1947	September 17, 1947	Conservative Party	President
28		C. J. Arosemena Tola (1888–1952)	September 17, 1947	August 31, 1948	Independent	President
29		Galo Plaza (1906–1987)	September 1, 1948	August 31, 1952	National Democratic Civic Movement	President
(24)		José María Velasco Ibarra (1893–1979)	September 1, 1952	August 31, 1956	Velaquista National Federation	President
30		Camilo Ponce Enríquez (1912–1976)	September 1, 1956	August 31, 1960	Social Christian Party	President
(24)		José María Velasco Ibarra (1893–1979)	September 1, 1960	November 7, 1961	Velaquista National Federation	President
31		C. J. Arosemena Monroy (1919–2004)	November 7, 1961	July 11, 1963	Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party	President
—		Military Junta of 1963	July 11, 1963	March 29, 1966	Military	Members: Ramón Castro Jijón Luis Cabrera Sevilla Guillermo Freile Posso (until November 9, 1965) Marcos Gándara
—		Clemente Yerovi (1904–1981)	March 30, 1966	November 16, 1966	Institutionalist Democratic Coalision	Acting President
32		Otto Arosemena (1925–1984)	November 16, 1966	August 31, 1968	Institutionalist Democratic Coalision	Interim President (November 16, 1966 – May 25, 1967) Constitutional President (May 25, 1967 – August 31, 1968)
(24)		José María Velasco Ibarra (1893–1979)	September 1, 1968	February 15, 1972	Velaquista National Federation	President (September 1, 1968 – June 22, 1970) Jefe Supremo (June 22, 1970 – February 15, 1972)
—		Guillermo Rodríguez Lara (1924–)	February 15, 1972	January 11, 1976	Military	President (de facto)
—		Supreme Council of Government	January 11, 1976	August 10, 1979	Military	President of the Council: Vice Admiral Alfredo Poveda Members: General Guillermo Durán Arcentales General Luis Leoro Franco
33		Jaime Roldós Aguilera (1940–1981)	August 10, 1979	May 24, 1981	Concentration of People's Forces	President
34		Osvaldo Hurtado (1939–)	May 24, 1981	August 10, 1984	Popular Democracy	President
35		León Febres Cordero (1931–2008)	August 10, 1984	August 10, 1988	Social Christian Party	President
36		Rodrigo Borja Cevallos (1935–)	August 10, 1988	August 10, 1992	Democratic Left	President
37		Sixto Durán Ballén (1921–2016)	August 10, 1992	August 10, 1996	Republican Unity Party	President
38		Abdalá Bucaram (1952–)	August 10, 1996	February 6, 1997	Ecuadorian Roldosist Party	President
39		Rosalía Arteaga (1956–)	February 6, 1997	February 11, 1997	Independent Movement for an Authentic Republic	President* (Arteaga is considered an official president by the office of the Presidency)
40		Fabián Alarcón (1947–)	February 11, 1997	August 10, 1998	Alfarista Radical Front	Interim President* (Alarcón is considered an official president by the office of the Presidency)
41		Jamil Mahuad (1949–)	August 10, 1998	January 21, 2000 (deposed.[3])	Popular Democracy	President
42		Gustavo Noboa (1937–)	January 22, 2000	January 15, 2003	Popular Democracy	President
43		Lucio Gutiérrez (1957–)	January 15, 2003	April 20, 2005	Patriotic Society Party	President
44		Alfredo Palacio (1939–)	April 20, 2005	January 15, 2007	Independent	President
45		Rafael Correa (1963–)	January 15, 2007	May 24, 2017	PAIS Alliance	President
46		Lenín Moreno (1953–)	May 24, 2017	Incumbent	PAIS Alliance	President

Timeline

Rival governments in rebellion

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

See also

• President of Ecuador
• History of Ecuador

References

1. Simón Espinoza (2000). Presidents of Ecuador. Editorial Vistazo
2. Supreme Electoral Tribunal. Elections and Democracy in Ecuador (1989). TSE
3. Barracca, Steven 'Military coups in the post-cold war era: Pakistan, Ecuador and Venezuela', Third World Quarterly, 28:1, 137 - 154