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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Lasso and the second or maternal family name is Mendoza.
Guillermo Lasso
Lasso in January 2017
President-elect of Ecuador
Assuming office
24 May 2021
Vice PresidentAlfredo Borrero Vega (elect)
SucceedingLenín Moreno
Superminister of Economy
In office
17 August 1999 – 24 September 1999
PresidentJamil Mahuad
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Governor of Guayas
In office
10 August 1998 – 17 August 1999
Preceded byRafael Guerrero Valenzuela
Succeeded byBenjamín Rosales Valenzuela
Personal details
Born
Guillermo Alberto Santiago Lasso Mendoza

(1955-11-16) 16 November 1955 (age 68)
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Political partyCreating Opportunities
Spouse
María de Lourdes Alcívar Crespo
​
​
(m. 1981)​
Children5
WebsiteOfficial website

Guillermo Alberto Santiago Lasso Mendoza (born 16 November 1955) is an Ecuadorian businessman and politician who is the president-elect of Ecuador.[1][2] He was a candidate in the 2021 general election, defeating Andrés Arauz.[3] He previously ran for president in the 2013 and 2017 elections. In the 2017 election, he advanced to the run-off running against Vice President Lenin Moreno but narrowly lost the election.[4]

Lasso served as Superminister of Economy during the Jamil Mahuad presidency briefly in 1999. He previously served as Governor of Guayas from 1998 until 1999. Aside from his political career, Lasso is also a banker and previously served as CEO of Banco Guayaquil.[5]

A self-proclaimed liberal,[6] his public agenda includes classical liberal points such as the defence of the division of powers to limit government and of fundamental rights.[7] He has also expressed opinions in favour of reducing taxes and is a free-market advocate.[8]

Early life

Lasso was born in Guayaquil to a middle class family.[9] After graduating from high school, he entered Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador in Quito to study economics but left without a degree.[10]

In 1977, Lasso met María de Lourdes Alcívar Crespo, whom he would marry in 1981.[11] They have five children: Maria de Lourdes, Juan, Guillermo Enrique, Santiago and Maria Mercedes.[11]

Business career

During the 1990s, Lasso was named the head of operations in Ecuador for Coca-Cola,[12] following the local bankruptcy of the company in that region. In this role, Lasso was tasked with restructuring the company and bringing it back to financial health.[13] He has since sat on the boards of directors for both Coca-Cola, and Mavesa,[14] and also served as Chairman of the board of directors of the Guayas Transit Commission as well as being a member of the Board of Directors of the Andean Development Corporation.[5]

In 1994 Lasso became the CEO of Banco Guayaquil.[5] As a part of his tenure, he founded the Bancos del Barrio program, a community banking initiative that brought in local shopkeepers as economic partners with the bank in planning and strategy.[15] The program was cited by the Inter-American Development Bank as an advancement in grassroots banking penetration strategy.[15] He resigned from his post as Executive President in 2012.[5] Lasso is also the founder of the Fundacion del Barrio.[16]

Early political career

In 1998, Lasso was appointed as the Governor of Guayas, during which the national government underwent a mass privatization of public companies and industries.[17]

Ecuador went through an economic collapse in 1999, following which, Lasso was temporarily appointed[18][19] to the newly created position of “Super Minister” of Economy,[20] replacing the resigning Ana Lucía Armijos. As finance minister, he served under President Jamil Mahuad and took over negotiations with the International Monetary Fund in earning economic support.[21] He was also tasked with coordinating government policy in response to the country's economic crisis.[20]

Presidential campaigns

2013

Lasso during the 2013 election.
Main article: 2013 Ecuadorian general election

In the 2013 general election he was presidential candidate for the party Creating Opportunities,[22][23] which he founded. He landed in second place with 22.68% of valid votes, losing to incumbent President Rafael Correa who received more than double that amount (57.17%). Lasso is, through a trust named with his initials, GLM, the largest share holder in Banco de Guayaquil, where he has been executive president for more than 20 years.[24]

2017

Lasso during the Guayaquil protests in 2015
Main article: 2017 Ecuadorian general election

In early 2017, Lasso launched his second presidential campaign to succeed incumbent President Correa for the conservative Creating Opportunities party in the 2017 presidential elections.[4] His campaign's theme was one of "change" and he pledged to create one million more jobs in Ecuador.[25] Lasso received 48.84% and lost to Lenín Moreno.[4] Following the result, Lasso accused his opponents of electoral fraud and called the incoming administration "illegitimate".[4] In February 2017, Lasso said in an interview with a British newspaper that should he win the presidential election he would "cordially ask" Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder, to leave the Ecuadorian Embassy in London within 30 days.[26]

2021

Main article: 2021 Ecuadorian general election

Lasso ran as a candidate again in the 2021 general election.[27] In the first round, Lasso was slightly behind indigenous rights activist Yaku Pérez Guartambel, but eventually garnered enough votes to secure a narrow second place finish.[28] Lasso would face socialist and Rafael Correa ally Andrés Arauz.[28] He defeated Arauz in the April run-off election, with many news outlets noting the conservative shift among the Ecuadorian electorate.[2] Lasso's victory was also seen as a win for free-market advocates in the country.[8]

President-elect of Ecuador

Following his victory in April 2021, Lasso will be inaugurated as Ecuador's 47th president on 24 May 2021.[8]

Political positions

In the words of Guillermo Lasso himself, "life has made him liberal".[6] However, when asked if he identified with that term, he replied that he does not place himself in any ideological ground, but believes in "good ideas".[29] In the same way, he responded when asked if he is from the right or the left.[6] His public agenda includes classic liberal points such as the defence of the division of powers to limit government and of fundamental rights such as freedom of the press.[7][30]

Lasso in 2013

He has also expressed himself in favour of reducing taxes, state debt and the minimum wage with the announced aim of increasing productivity and employment in the private sector.[31] On the tax on capital outflows, he thinks that it is in fact a tax on capital income, and he has committed himself to eliminating at least nine taxes if he is elected president.[32] Lasso also was accused of supporting reducing the minimum wage from $400 per month in 2020 to $120 per month; however, that was a statement taken out of context from an interview he gave in March 2020 in the middle of the pandemic, while giving a suggestion of letting businesses recruit unemployed poor single mothers so they could at least get some income.[33][34][35]

Guillermo Lasso has declared himself an admirer of José María Aznar's Silent Revolution, a series of reforms implemented by the former president of the Government of Spain.[36] On foreign trade, he has said that he favours a greater opening of trade with Ecuador's major partners, the United States and the European Union, so that national producers have greater export opportunities.[7][30]

Lasso at an election event before the first round of the 2017 election

Guillermo Lasso was a supernumerary of Opus Dei.[37] On abortion he has said in general terms that he "believes in life from conception and that is a principle I will not change".[38] On bullfighting and cockfighting he has said that although he does not share these hobbies he does not seek to impose his tastes on others. On other issues such as marriage between people of the same sex, he has said that he is in favour of allowing civil union, but differentiating it from conventional marriage.[7][30] On immigration he has proposed controls for those with criminal records, but to facilitate the entry of foreigners for tourism, investment, or humanitarian reasons.[7][30] On the decriminalisation of drugs he maintains that a national debate is necessary to propose alternatives in the face of the failure of the war on drugs; on issues of environmental conservation he states that he will keep the Yasuní Amazon reserve free of oil exploitation.[7][30]

He also declares himself an enemy of the 21st century socialism promoted from Venezuela and Cuba, whose Ecuadorian chapter identifies with the Citizens' Revolution led by Rafael Correa. Lasso has called the supranational organisation ALBA a "third world empire". In response to his criticism of the Ecuadorian government's anti-capitalist discourse and measures, President Correa and other officials and members of Alianza PAIS have questioned Guillermo Lasso by portraying him as a representative of the political forces that governed Ecuador before his party came to power in 2007, and pointing out that Lasso's tax proposals are irresponsible with the state budget.[39][40] Also, President Rafael Correa claims Lasso had a hand in Ecuador's financial crisis of 1999.[41][42]

Writing

In 2011 Lasso published the book Cartas a Mis Hijos, which translates to Letters to my Children, which contains lessons he developed from his time working in business and highlights recommendations for the economic development of Ecuador.[15] Among his ideas, Lasso discusses the need for greater sovereignty over parts of the national economy.[15] The book advocates for the Ecuadorian government to develop policies that create more economic opportunities for its citizens.[15] Soon after its release, former Prime Minister of Spain José María Aznar stated the book held key insights into what is needed for development.[43] During the book launch event, former Ecuadorian President Gustavo Noboa was present to show support for the project, along with other national politicians.[44] Following its publications, Lasso performed policy speeches, and used the plans in the book as a basis for a presidential political campaign.[45] In 2012 he then published the book Otro Ecuador Es Posible.[45]

References

  1. ^ "LATEST: Ecuador's pro-market candidate Guillermo Lasso wins the presidential runoff". Bloomberg Quicktake. 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Ecuador goes with conservative banker in presidential vote". Associated Press. 11 April 2021.
  3. ^ "CNE acepta candidatura del binomio Lasso-Borrero, impugnada por el correísmo". 22 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "Guillermo Lasso refuses to concede in Ecuador election". www.aljazeera.com.
  5. ^ a b c d "Guillermo Lasso renunció a la presidencia ejecutiva del Banco de Guayaquil". El Universo. 7 May 2012.
  6. ^ a b c "Guillermo Lasso: Mi vida me hizo liberal". El Universo (in Spanish). 9 May 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Lasso dice que no persigue el poder total". El Comercio. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "Ecuador's Guillermo Lasso Wins Presidential Election". The Wall Street Journal. 11 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Guillermo Lasso Biografía" (in Spanish). Noticias Tutoriales Herramientas. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  10. ^ "FACTBOX-Leftist and banker fight for Ecuador presidency -". Reuters.
  11. ^ a b "Esta es la familia de Guillermo Lasso, nuevo presidente de Ecuador" (in Spanish). El Tiempo. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Will Washington intervene in Ecuador's election? - China.org.cn". www.china.org.cn.
  13. ^ Gross, Lisette Arévalo (30 March 2017). "Quién es Guillermo Lasso, candidato presidencial por el movimiento CREO".
  14. ^ "Guillermo Lasso . El emprendedor que promete "el regreso de la democracia" a Ecuador". 1 April 2017.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Guillermo Lasso presenta su libro "Carta a mis hijos"". www.ecuadorinmediato.com.
  16. ^ "Guillermo Lasso". El Comercio.
  17. ^ "Meet the Candidates-Ecuador". America's Quarterly. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  18. ^ "The Left Prevails in Ecuador". NACLA.
  19. ^ "Ecuador votes on Sunday. These are 5 things you need to know. - The Washington Post".
  20. ^ a b Newswires, Dow Jones (18 August 1999). "Ecuador's Mahuad Names Lasso To New Post of 'Super Minister'" – via www.wsj.com.
  21. ^ News, Bloomberg (28 August 1999). "Ecuador to Get I.M.F. Loan; Finance Minister to Step Down" – via NYTimes.com. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  22. ^ "CREO enrolled Lasso-Solines binomial". Archived from the original on 25 November 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  23. ^ "In that case the opposition should unite around a single candidate who, according to ARCOP, would be Guillermo Lasso, with 26% of voter preference in the same survey." Correa’s reelection is uncertain Archived 13 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ Mark Weisbrot: Media can't ignore financial scandal in Ecuador's presidential election, TheHill, 24. March 2017
  25. ^ Guillermo Lasso inicia su campaña electoral visitando puerta a puerta a ciudadanos en Guayaquil, ecuadorinmediato.com, 3 January 2017 (Spanish)
  26. ^ Ecuador presidential hopeful promises to evict Julian Assange from embassy, The Guardian, 9. February 2017
  27. ^ McDonnell, Patrick J.; Jaramillo Viteri, Pablo (11 April 2021). "Shadow of COVID-19 and economic downturn hovers over elections in Ecuador and Peru". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  28. ^ a b "Leftist Arauz, conservative Lasso advance to Ecuador presidential run-off". Buenos Aires Times. 22 February 2021.
  29. ^ "Guillermo Lasso: No me ubico en ninguna ideología". El Comercio. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  30. ^ a b c d e "Guillermo Lasso promete crear un millón de empleos en 4 años". 28 January 2013. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  31. ^ ""Lower the Minimum Wage From $400/month to $120" - Ecuador Presidential Candidate Guillermo Lasso". Empanada Report. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  32. ^ "Propuesta #17: "Menos Impuestos" | Blog de Guillermo Lasso". 3 February 2014. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  33. ^ ""Guillermo Lasso, Luis Verdesoto y Fabricio Villamar" - Guillermo Lasso's interview - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  34. ^ ""Lower the Minimum Wage From $400/month to $120" - Ecuador Presidential Candidate Guillermo Lasso - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  35. ^ "Minimum wage will increase $6 in 2020". CuencaHighLife. 27 December 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  36. ^ . 5 November 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111105115904/https://www.fundacionfaes.org/record_file/filename/1279/Intervencion-Lasso.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 November 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2020. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  37. ^ "Iglesia y Nebot respaldan postulación de Lasso". El Universo (in Spanish). 21 January 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  38. ^ "Ha sido superministro, embajador itinerante y gobernador del Guayas". El Universo (in Spanish). 25 August 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  39. ^ "Presidente Correa responde a Guillermo Lasso sobre índice de pobreza en el Ecuador". www.ecuadorinmediato.com. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  40. ^ "Carlos Marx Carrasco dice que propuesta tributaria de Lasso es "irresponsable" - ENE. 28, 2013 - 19:00 - Política - Noticias de Ecuador y del mundo | El Universo". 4 February 2013. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  41. ^ "andes.info.ec & redaktionstest.net". Redaktionstest.net (in German). 29 January 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  42. ^ "La responsabilidad de Guillermo Lasso en el feriado bancario de 1999 - Restauración Conservadora". 26 June 2015. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  43. ^ "Guillermo Lasso presenta su libro 'Cartas a mis hijos' en el que recoge sus vivencias en Ecuador". Antena 3 Noticias. 15 November 2011.
  44. ^ "Guillermo Lasso presentó su libro y habló de política". El Comercio.
  45. ^ a b "En el nuevo libro de Lasso se percibe un plan de Gobierno". El Universo. 12 July 2012.
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