Guillermo Rodríguez (politician)
Guillermo Rodríguez | |
|---|---|
Rodríguez in 1973 | |
| Acting President of Ecuador | |
| In office 15 February 1972 – 11 January 1976 | |
| Preceded by | José María Velasco Ibarra |
| Succeeded by | Alfredo Poveda |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 November 1923 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | School of the Americas |
| Signature | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Ecuador |
| Branch/service | Ecuadorian Army |
| Commands | Ecuadorian Army |
| Battles/wars | El Carnavalazo coup |
Guillermo Antonio Rodríguez Lara (born 4 November 1923) is an Ecuadorian former political and military leader who was the dictator of Ecuador from 1972 to 1976.[1] He came to power after leading the 1972 military coup against President José María Velasco Ibarra.[2] He characterised his government as "revolutionary and nationalistic."[2]
Biography
Rodríguez was born in Pujilí, Cotopaxi on 4 November 1923.[3][4] He took courses in C&R&Bn Staff, Irregular Warfare Orientation, and Maintenance Management at the School of the Americas located in Panama.[5]
As commander of the army, he led a military coup d'etat executed by a navy commander named Jorge Queirolo, and forced president José María Velasco into exile, to Buenos Aires, Argentina. During his rule, Ecuador experienced substantial economic growth due to an increase in oil prices.[2] The oil wealth enabled his administration to embark on public works programs, funding the construction of hospitals, schools, roads (notably, paving the Quito-Tulcán road), the oil refinery at Esmeraldas, and new equipment for the armed services.[6][2] Some military officers attempted an unsuccessful coup against him in 1975.[2] The Ecuadorian military removed him from power in January 1976.[7][2]
Rodríguez turned 100 on 4 November 2023.[8] At 102 years old, he is now the oldest living former state leader in the world.[9][10]
References
- ^ Martz, John D. (1987). Politics and Petroleum in Ecuador. Transaction Publishers. p. 29. ISBN 978-1-4128-3133-8.
- ^ a b c d e f Mora, Enrique Ayala (1991), Bethell, Leslie (ed.), "Ecuador since 1930", The Cambridge History of Latin America: Volume 8: Latin America since 1930: Spanish South America, vol. 8, Cambridge University Press, pp. 687–726, doi:10.1017/chol9780521266529.013, ISBN 978-0-521-26652-9
- ^ Lentz, Harris M. (4 February 2014). Heads of States and Governments Since 1945. Routledge. p. 239. ISBN 978-1-134-26490-2. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ The International Who's Who: 1996–97. Europa Publications. 1996. p. 1313. ISBN 978-1-85743-021-9. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ "SOA Watch". soaw.org. Archived from the original on 24 January 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- ^ Lauderbaugh, George (2012). The History of Ecuador. ABC-CLIO. p. 132. ISBN 978-0-313-36250-7. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ Martz, p. 6
- ^ Bravo, Diego (4 November 2023). "El expresidente Guillermo Rodríguez Lara cumple 100 años este 4 de noviembre" [Former President Guillermo Rodríguez Lara turns 100 this November 4th]. ecuavisa.
- ^ "Expresidente Guillermo Rodríguez Lara cumplió 101 años" [Former President Guillermo Rodríguez Lara turned 101 years old]. El Universo (in Spanish). 4 November 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ "GUILLERMO RODRÍGUEZ LARA CUMPLE 102 AÑOS DE UNA VIDA QUE MARCÓ LA HISTORIA DEL ECUADOR" [GUILLERMO RODRÍGUEZ LARA TURNS 102 YEARS OLD, A LIFE THAT MARKED THE HISTORY OF ECUADOR]. Al Dia Online (in Spanish). 4 November 2025. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
External links