Biography
Guillermo Alberto Santiago Lasso Mendoza was born on November 16, 1955, in Guayaquil, Ecuador. He started his education at the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, then moved into banking and finance. Lasso married Maria De Lourdes Alcivar and became a key player in Ecuador's financial sector, eventually becoming CEO of Banco Guayaquil. His business success set the stage for his political career.
Lasso started his political journey in the 1990s, serving as Governor of Guayas from 1998 to 1999. In 1999, he was named Superminister of Economy during Jamil Mahuad's presidency, but his time was short due to the administration's instability. He later became Ecuador's Itinerant Ambassador during Lucio Gutiérrez's administration in 2003. During Rafael Correa's presidency, Lasso was a strong critic of the government's socialist policies and promoted free-market economics and liberal ideas.
In 2012, Lasso started the Creating Opportunities Party and ran for president in 2013, coming in second to Rafael Correa. He tried again in 2017, made it to the runoff, but narrowly lost to Lenín Moreno. He finally won in 2021 after his third attempt, becoming Ecuador's 47th president at 65.
Lasso's presidency from 2021 to 2023 faced big challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, economic instability, and social unrest. His administration rolled out vaccination programs and economic relief, seeking help from the International Monetary Fund. However, rising food and fuel prices sparked widespread protests, especially from indigenous groups. The government's handling of these protests raised human rights issues. Impeachment proceedings started against Lasso following the Panama Papers revelations, and growing political pressure eventually led to his resignation in 2023, cutting his term short.
Before Fame
Growing up in Guayaquil during the 1960s and 1970s, Lasso saw Ecuador move from military rule to democracy. His education at the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools gave him a background in Catholic social teachings and conservative values that later shaped his political views. During this time, Ecuador's banking sector was growing quickly as the country updated its financial system.
Lasso's rise in the banking industry matched Ecuador's shift to economic liberalization in the 1980s and 1990s. His success at Banco Guayaquil built his reputation as a skilled financier and gave him a deep understanding of Ecuador's economic issues. The financial crisis of the late 1990s, which resulted in Ecuador adopting the US dollar, opened up opportunities for experienced bankers like Lasso to take on key roles in government economic policy.
Key Achievements
- Served as Ecuador's 47th President from 2021 to 2023
- Led successful COVID-19 vaccination campaign during his presidency
- Built Banco Guayaquil into one of Ecuador's major financial institutions as CEO
- Founded the Creating Opportunities Party in 2012
- Served as Governor of Guayas province from 1998 to 1999
Did You Know?
- 01.Lasso became president on his third attempt, having lost the 2013 election to Rafael Correa by over 20 percentage points
- 02.He was CEO of Banco Guayaquil, one of Ecuador's largest private banks, before entering politics
- 03.His presidency lasted only two years, making him one of Ecuador's shortest-serving elected presidents
- 04.Lasso was 65 years old when he first became president, making him one of Ecuador's oldest newly elected presidents
- 05.He dissolved Ecuador's National Assembly in May 2023 using a constitutional provision called 'mutual death' to avoid impeachment