por Carlos Julio Arosemena Monroy was an Ecuadorian politician who held numerous public positions, highlighting that of president for almost two years in the early 1960s of the 20th century. Apart from this position, he was also vice president, defense minister and several times a representative of the nation.
Arosemena Monroy studied jurisprudence and came from a family with a political tradition, since her own father had also held the highest political office in Ecuador. One of her first cousins completes the family saga in the presidency. He was a very popular politician.
He was characterized by having great social sensitivity, which led him to promote various laws to promote the rights of workers in his country. This led to the opposition of many national and international sectors, especially the US government.
A coup d’état ended his presidential term, forcing him to leave Ecuador for a while. Upon his return, his convening power was still intact and in the 1990s he was again elected as a deputy of the nation.
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Biography of Carlos Julio Arosemena Monroy
early years
Carlos Julio Arosemena Monroy was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on August 24, 1919. His father was former President Arosemena Tola, so politics was present in his life from childhood.
The future politician developed his first years of study in his hometown. He attended primary school between the María Auxiliadora school and the Salesians of Cristóbal Colón. He later went to the National Institute to do secondary school, although he graduated from Vicente Rocafuerte, as was required by law at the time.
University studies and first jobs
As it happened with her first educational stages, Arosemena Monroy remained in Guayaquil during her university studies. She chose the career of Social and Political Sciences. Finally, she obtained the title of these disciplines, in addition to that of lawyer and the doctorate in Jurisprudence.
His first job was as a professor of Private International Law at the same University where he had studied. He later joined the diplomatic career, being assigned to Brazil in 1945 and to the United States in 1946.
entry into politics
He took his first steps in politics in 1952. As a member of the Velasquista Party (with a large popular component) he was elected a member of Congress. In that legislature, he was appointed president of the Chamber, a position he held until August of that year, when the president chose him as defense minister.
However, this first stage did not last long. Arosemena decided to resign soon and returned to his private work.
return to congress
A few years later he repeated as a candidate for deputy for Guayas. He was elected in 1958 and carried out a strict opposition to the government of the moment.
After a year as a deputy, the Velasquista Party nominated him as a vice-presidential candidate, forming a tandem with Velasco Ibarra. This candidacy was the winner in the 1960 elections.
vice presidency
The Guayaquil politician began to exercise his new position as vice president on August 31, 1960. The chroniclers affirm that there was great expectation on the part of the people, since the two top leaders were supposed to be in favor of improving their conditions.
However, internal problems in the government did not take long to appear. A trip to the Soviet Union by Arosemena Monroy was highly criticized by her colleagues. Both the Council of Ministers and the president gave public signs of distance with Arosemena.
The situation worsened so much that, on November 7, 1961, President Velasco Ibarra launched a self-coup, proclaiming himself the sole authority. His first decision was to imprison the vice president and twelve other legislators.
Presidency
It was the reaction of the people that turned the situation around. In just a couple of days, when the country seemed headed for a civil war, Velasco Ibarra was evicted from the government. By decision of Congress, his replacement was Arosemena Monroy.
Despite the Chamber’s appointment, a sector of the army did not agree with the designation. The quick action of other soldiers saved the new president from being overthrown a few days after beginning his task.
However, the situation was far from calm. The internal opposition accused Arosemena of not behaving with the dignity that her position demanded and, in addition, the Armed Forces asked her to break relations with Cuba and other socialist countries.
Arosemena saved that difficult moment, as well as the request by the conservatives that he be replaced, displaying great political skill.
Overthrow
He was not so lucky in the next big crisis that hit the government. After an official visit to various American countries in the summer of 1962, events precipitated.
The president gave a speech in July 1963 in which he stated that «the United States government exploits Latin America and Ecuador.» The army took these words as an excuse to start a coup. The day after those words, on July 11, the military rebels overthrew him and he had to go into exile in Panama.
Arosemena Monroy himself gave the key to this coup: “They responded to the orders of a foreign power, mainly Mr. Bernbaum, ambassador of the United States of America; That is not a secret, they have said it, also pointing out that they were in the role of CIA payments.
Life after the presidency
His exile in the Central American country did not last long. The politician returned to Ecuador and began an opposition effort against the Military Junta that had taken power.
He was popular to such an extent that the military included a clause in the Constitution that they proclaimed to prevent him from running in another election.
Deputy
Despite this, Arosemena never abandoned politics. She continued to attend conferences and talks, while continuing to work in the field of law.
Already in 1992 the situation in Ecuador allowed him to run for political office again. Thus, he was elected deputy for the Republican Union party, which led to his return to Congress. In 1996 he agreed to the position of judge minister of the Supreme Court of Justice.
Death
Already quite old, he decided to retire. On March 5, 2004, he passed away in his hometown of Guayaquil.
political works
All the laws promulgated or proposed by Arosemena Monroy had a strong progressive accent. His work was always carried out in defense of the weakest, he being a great defender of public liberties.
Education
Political scientists highlight his educational laws as some of the most important in his political career. Under his government, public education was promoted, creating the Department of Comprehensive Approach.
Similarly, many new educational centers were built, both colleges and universities. He conducted several literacy campaigns and was a champion for teachers’ rights.
Labor laws
Among the labor legislation that it approved is the introduction of 40 hours of weekly work and the implementation of the fourteenth salary. On the other hand, he developed plans for the construction of social housing.
infrastructures
He also placed emphasis on improving infrastructure that he considered essential for the development of Ecuador. These include the modernization of telecommunications and the road network. Finally, during his government stage, the TAME airline company was founded.
References
Aviles Pino, Efren. Arosemena Monroy Dr. Carlos Julio. Retrieved from enciclopediadelecuador.com
Saá B., J.Lorenzo. Carlos Julio Arosemena Monroy. Retrieved from trenandino.com
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. Carlos Julio Arosemena Monroy. Retrieved from britannica.com
Harding, Collin. Carlos Julio Arosemena. Retrieved from independent.co.uk
Lentz, Harris M. Heads of States and Governments Since 1945. Retrieved from books.google.es
Ministry of Foreign Relations and Human Mobility. The 50 years of military coup d’état in Ecuador are remembered in Brazil. Obtained from cancilleria.gob.ec
US Library of Congress. Instability and Military Dominance, 1960-72. Retrieved from countrystudies.us