Bucaram, Ortiz Abdalá (1952– )

Ecuadorean politician and president 1996–97. He founded the Ecuadorean Roldosista Party (PRE) in 1982 and was elected mayor of Guayaquil in 1984. In 1996 he succeeded in his bid for the presidency, defeating his opponent from the Social Christian Party (PSC). In February 1997 he was removed from office by Congress.

Bucaram trained as a lawyer and was a keen sportsman, representing his country as an Olympic hurdler. During the presidential election campaign he appealed to Ecuador's poorer classes, promising to focus on the country's social welfare programmes.