Parliamentary Solutions to Presidential Crises in Ecuador

Abstract

Over the past decade, Ecuador has witnessed growing social and economic unrest that has led to the ousting of three constitutionally elected presidents and generated severe political instability. Although Ecuadorian presidents are historically familiar with political instability and frequent regime change, the fundamental feature of contemporary political crises is that instability did not lead to regime breakdown (Pérez-Liñán 2007). What is more interesting is the fact that Congress played a critical role in the unfolding of all these crises: first, by endorsing widespread demands for presidential resignation from pressure groups including indigenous organizations, the military, citizens in general, and political parties themselves through a de facto “vote of no confidence”; and second, by appointing a successor to the president’s office.

Authors wish to thank Pablo Andrade, Mariana Llanos, Leiv Marsteintredet, and Aníbal Pérez-Liñán for their comments.