El Carnavalazo was a military coup in

Ecuador Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It also includes the Galápagos Province which contain ...

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 Amador (born 1974), American musician *Guillermo Amor (born 1967), Spanis ...

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 (), officially called the constitutional president of the Republic of Ecuador (), serves as the head of state and head of government of Ecuador. It is the highest political office in the country as the head of the exec ...

. Democratic rule did not last long, with Velasco assuming dictatorial powers with military support in 1970 by suspending

Congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...

and ruling by decree. A failed military coup against his regime took place in 1971, causing Velasco to appoint Guillermo Rodríguez "El Bombita" Lara as the new army commander. In the same year, president Velasco promulgated the Hydrocarbons Law, which declared oil to be a national state patrimony, increased the royalties owed to the State and regulated foreign oil companies' operations. 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 Guayaquil (), officially Santiago de Guayaquil, is the largest city in Ecuador and also the nation's economic capital and main port. The city is the capital (political), capital of Guayas Province and the seat of Guayaquil Canton. The city is ...

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

, considered the favorite candidate. The imminent oil boom and prospect of the immense revenues resulting from it sparked planning of a coup by the military, which did not want these oil riches managed by a populist candidate or the traditional oligarchy.

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 among military circles. According to Rodrigo Rivadeneira, one of Velasco's aides-de-camp, he personally notified Velasco on February 13, the Sunday before the beginning of

Lent Lent (, 'Fortieth') is the solemn Christianity, Christian religious moveable feast#Lent, observance in the liturgical year in preparation for Easter. It echoes the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring Temptation of Christ, t ...

, while Velasco was in Ambato that the military intended to remove him from power. Velasco indignantly rejected the demand, telling Rivadeneira that he should tell Rodríguez Lara that "if he wants power, he should come and take it from me and I will leave in protest." Velasco returned to Quito the next day, then on February 15,

Shrove Tuesday Shrove Tuesday (also known as Pancake Tuesday or Pancake Day) is the final day of Shrovetide, which marks the end of the pre-Lenten season. Lent begins the following day with Ash Wednesday. Shrove Tuesday is observed in many Christian state, Ch ...

, went to Guayaquil to deliver a televised address. According to Rivadeneira Velasco was, however, unable to deliver the speech he intended to give without the mass audience he was accustomed to speak to and asked to be allowed to return in an hour. When he returned to the

Palacio de Carondelet Carondelet Palace () is the seat of government of the Republic of Ecuador, located in Quito. Access is by the public space known as Independence Square or Plaza Grande (colloquial name), around which are also the Archbishop's Palace, Municipa ...

he discovered, however, that the coup had already proceeded; he was arrested and deported to

Panama Panama, officially the Republic of Panama, is a country in Latin America at the southern end of Central America, bordering South America. It is bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north, and ...

the next day. After the coup, a three‐man junta called the Revolutionary Nationalist Government was established. Most Ecuadorian citizens were not aware of the coup at the time, as radio stations only played music and three TV stations from Guayaquil went off the air.

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 in South America

Background

Coup

See also

References