Politics

V!VA User‘s Description

Ecuador has been a constitutional republic with a democratic government since 1976. The government consists of three main branches: executive, headed by a president, currently Rafael Correa (since January 2007); legislative, made up of dozens of political parties that constantly come and go; and judicial.

Political instability has plagued Ecuador in recent years, and subsequently the country has witnessed a procession of incompetent and/or corrupt leaders. Eight different presidents have risen to and fallen from power in the last decade, and Ecuadorians are generally frustrated with their politicians, as is often demonstrated in street protests. In April 2005, popular protest against unconstitutional actions by former President Lucio Gutierrez brought an early end to his term.

Then-vice president, Dr. Alfredo Palacio, took over shortly after congress voted to remove Gutierrez from office. US-trained economist Rafael Correa was elected president in November 2006 and sworn in to replace Palacio as president in January of 2007.