At the October 17 meeting between President Guillermo Lasso and President-elect Daniel Noboa at the beginning of the government transition, Don Clemente Yerovi’s attentive gaze on the portrait hanging in Carondelet’s living room seemed to witness their handshake. Yerovi Indaburu, interim president of Ecuador in 1966, appeared symbolically in front of the future of history.

Clemente Yerovi’s painting followed the meeting between Daniel Noboa and Guillermo Lasso in Carondelet

Merchant, sailor, farmer, rancher, creator of collective wealth, banker, historian, diplomat, minister, senator, he was also – according to his biographers, Víctor Pino Y. (1991) and Manuel de Guzmán P. (2004) – a man observer, excellent reader, with strong character, deep vision. And an honest and tireless worker in the short and significant period in which he assumed power.

In 1966, the General Staff pressured the Military Government Junta to cease operations, and several political, military and civil forces proposed Yerovia for the Provisional Government to reduce tensions, given that he was a calm and educated person. and the international world. Don Clemente was sworn in as president on March 30, 1966 in front of General T. Vargas and former presidents C. Ponce, G. Plaza and A. Córdova. On November 16 of the same year, he left his position, driving his own car to Guayaquil.

(…) it had two goals… an immediate return to the constitutional regime and iron discipline in the use of economic resources.

When taking office, Yerovi had two goals: an immediate return to the constitutional regime and iron discipline in the use of economic resources. Citizens supported him, recognizing the chaos in which the country is and the value of the president’s own promise that he will not stay a day longer than necessary. Ecuador went on strike for nine days, universities were closed; In the conflicts between the people and the army, the dead, wounded and prisoners multiplied; Despondency and mistrust were evident.

Clemente Yerovi ruled for seven and a half months without political parties, forming a national advisory cabinet, which reduced the government’s debt to the Central Bank by 12% and more than doubled the monetary reserve; financed the construction of the Bridge of National Unity, freed political prisoners, restored the right to strike and association, did not close down media houses, re-established control over 200 miles of territorial sea, created Secap, the Banana Fleet and the Marine Corps, enrolled more than 120,000 students and 10,000 in its educational plan craftsmen; among other achievements.

Youth or experience, who should Daniel Noboa bet on to form his ministerial cabinet?

“If someone were asked to pacify an angry population, break up a calm army, deal with a huge budget deficit, organize the country politically, call elections, conduct them (…) impartially, gather the National Constituent Assembly, appoint it and hand over power, for just a few months, wouldn’t it be true that it would be a miracle? That is the miracle they are asking of us, and we will fulfill it.” And he did.

A key moment in history and an inspiring president, with a firm political and civic decision to strengthen democracy in the exercise of power. (OR)