El Carnavalazo was a military coup in

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...

led by

Guillermo Rodríguez Lara Guillermo () is the Spanish form of the male given name William. The name is also commonly shortened to 'Guille' or, in Latin America, to nickname 'Memo'. People *Guillermo Amor (born 1967), Spanish football manager and former player *Guillermo Ar� ...

, that deposed the government of

José María Velasco Ibarra José María Velasco Ibarra (19 March 1893 – 30 March 1979) was an Ecuadorian politician. He became president of Ecuador five times, in 1934–1935, 1944–1947, 1952–1956, 1960–1961, and 1968–1972, and only in 1952–1956 he complete ...

on 15 February 1972, ending the fifth and last of the Velasquist presidencies. This event was popularly called "Carnavalazo" because it happened during the Ecuadorian carnival.

Background

In the 1968 general election, José María Velasco Ibarra was democratically elected for a fifth term (1968–1972) as

President of Ecuador The president of Ecuador ( es, Presidente del Ecuador), officially called the Constitutional President of the Republic of Ecuador ( es, Presidente Constitucional de la República del Ecuador), serves as both the head of state and head of govern ...

. Democratic rule didn't last long, with Velasco assuming dictatorial powers in 1970 with military support. A failed military coup against his regime took place in 1971, causing Velasco to appoint Guillermo Rodríguez Lara "El Bombita" as the new army commander. In the same year, president Velasco promulgated the Hydrocarbon Law; the law recovered the sovereignty of Ecuadorian oil, proclaiming it as a national state patrimony. In this political crisis, Velasco's regime promised elections for June 1972, which would make his mandate end on August 31. One of the likely candidates was the former mayor of

Guayaquil , motto = Por Guayaquil Independiente en, For Independent Guayaquil , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Ecuador#South America , pushpin_re ...

Assad Bucaram Assad Bucaram Elmhalin (24 December 1916 – 5 November 1981) was an Ecuadorian politician of Lebanese descent, he occupied positions as city Councilor and later of Mayor of Guayaquil (1962–1963, 1967–1970). He was elected a Deputy for the pr ...

, considered the favorite candidate.

Coup

Publicly, 1972 began peacefully, with Velasco and army chief Bombita celebrating a new year with a toast. National debates took place about two topics: the possible triumph of Assad Bucaram in the elections and the country's oil future. In early February 1972, plans to overthrow Velasco during carnival circulated in the military circle. On the night of February 15, shrove Tuesday, a bloodless military coup takes power and appoints Rodríguez Lara as president. The coup surprised Velasco in

Quito Quito (; qu, Kitu), formally San Francisco de Quito, is the capital and largest city of Ecuador, with an estimated population of 2.8 million in its urban area. It is also the capital of the province of Pichincha. Quito is located in a valley o ...

, who traveled to Guayaquil to denounce this action by a television broadcast. Velasco was arrested by navy officers and deported to

Panama Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Cos ...

the next day. After the coup, a three‐man junta called the Revolutionary Nationalist Government is established. Most Ecuadorian citizens have not heard of the coup. The radio stations only played music and three TV stations from Guayaquil went off the air. The intention of the military takeover was the oil administration. With a imminent oil boom, the military did not want the oil riches to be managed by a populist candidate or traditional oligarchy, with that preventing the planned electoral process.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1972 Ecuadorian Coup d'etat Ecuadorian Coup d'etat Coup d'etat Military coups in Ecuador

Ecuadorian Coup d'etat Military history of Ecuador Political history of Ecuador February 1972 events in South America

Background

Coup

See also

References