Velasco Ibarra, José Maria (1893-1979)

Ecuadorean politician; president five times between 1934 and 1968. He dominated political life in Ecuador in the post-war era, gaining presidential election five times (1934-35, 1944-47, 1952-56, 1960-61, and 1968-72). He only completed one full term in office, however. A populist politician among the Ecuadorean peoples, his administration was extremely erratic, often instituting abrupt policy changes, inappropriate economic policy, oppression and even military intervention.

In his political career, Velasco Ibarra was elected and deposed as president twice before succeeding Galo Plaza Lasso in 1952. His third (and only complete) term in office, saw widespread media censorship and infrastructure investment during an economically stable period. In 1960, Velasco Ibarra initiated changes in the nation's socio-economic structures and his governmental style succeeded in creating strong opposition from the two main parties: the liberals and conservatives. In 1961, he was forced to resign by a military junta. The period 1968-72, was marked by mounting hostility and political chaos as economic problems worsened. Many opposition members believed that national economic growth would be considerably impeded, as many of the successful policies established by previous administrations were invariably terminated or reversed by Velasco Ibarra during his terms in office. In June 1970, with riots and public unrest, Velasco Ibarra, with support from the military, established a dictatorship. He was later overthrown by a military junta and General Guillermo Rodriguez Lara became president.