Guillermo Lasso: "I entered the government with an economic program and, in the end, I carried out more actions in the social field".

Guillermo Lasso, president of the Republic of Ecuador between May 2021 and November 2023, visited the University of Navarra to give a lecture at lecture 'Leadership in a changing world', as part of the lecture series 'Leaders of Latin America today', organized by the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) of the University of Navarra. The former president reviewed some of the milestones of his term of office, with special emphasis on his health management .

Likewise, the nearly 90 attendees were able to ask him questions and concerns about Ecuador and Latin America in general. Topics such as security in Ecuador, subject still pending for the current government, the lack of a good right-wing leadership in Latin America, Venezuela' s status or Ecuador's financial relationship with Spain were discussed.

Born into a humble family, the youngest of 11 siblings, Lasso set himself 5 challenges throughout his life: first, not to depend on his older siblings, then, not to be poor, later, to become an entrepreneur to achieve economic autonomy and, from there, to become a banker. But he not only focused on his business, he also set himself the challenge of becoming a politician. After holding several positions, he developed the center-right CREO political movement. Later, he decided he would be president and established the coalition 'Unidos por ecuador'. "Who was going to vote for a banker, Catholic and rich kid?" he was reproached. After two failed attempts, he managed to become president and end Rafael Correa's double mandate.

On May 24, 2021, he took office position with a country mired in an economic, health and security crisis. On that day, he promised to carry out the largest logistical movement in Ecuador: to vaccinate more than 2 million people in 100 days, "without having vaccines", noted the politician. After several visits to the Chinese Embassy, Ecuador became the first country in the world in vaccination speed. By July 17, 2021, nine million Ecuadorians had received the first dose of the vaccine against COVID 19. The president stressed that this result was thanks to the involvement of many, such as the committee National Electoral (the vaccines were administered in the voting centers themselves), the Ministry of Health, private companies, police, press...

"As a banker, I entered the government with an economicist program and, in the end, I carried out more actions in the social field", he ironized. In addition to lowering the country's debt from 61% to 50% of GDP, Lasso developed several measures to support women and fight against gender violence, eradicate child malnutrition or repeal laws in favor of freedom of the press. "Vaccination surprised citizens but you can't be so fast all the time or with all public policies", he admitted making reference letter to those who criticized his management of the country's security.

Security and exit from the presidency

His mandate was not Exempt of controversy, with a great security crisis and social mobilizations. Lasso shared his "bad experience" and affirmed that it is not good, but it is normal, that the government and civil society have to face organized crime. He explained how Ecuador, at the beginning of the century, went from being a drug trafficking country to a country of consumption, micro and macro trafficking. He lamented the power struggles that take place between local drug lords over territories. However, he denounced that today these gangs are fighting for control of the State. He said that for the past 10 years, the drug lords have been financing the campaigns of politicians in small municipalities. This problem is not only found in Ecuador, he added, alluding to corruption in Venezuela.

Exit from power and new challenges

In 2023, after four impeachment attempts, Lasso considered that the harassment was such that it ended up affecting citizens. "My goal was the Ecuadorian people, not to keep me in office at any cost," he assured. Thus, he dissolved the courts and called for new elections. This time he did not run, aware of his leave popularity and that he would have to make pacts with other parties that he did not consider ethical.

Once out of the presidency, the Ecuadorian politician has set himself a new challenge: "To be the best former president of Ecuador in the 21st century". How? "By working with young people," he added. The former president has considered that in order to build a future in politics and a good leadership, it is necessary to work with the instructions. Thus, he has proposed to work with young people to involve them in politics. For example, he has developed an initiative he has called 'the democratic pizza' since he meets with groups of about 40 young people to discuss democracy and have pizza.

He has also developed a program to fight child malnutrition through his Fundación Ecuador Libre. For the politician and banker, this is a vital issue for the country, since, when he came to power, Ecuador was the country with the second highest child malnutrition. He has considered that, although it now occupies the fourth place in the ranking, there is still much to be done work .

Finally, Lasso offered a series of tips to the attendees, most of whom were students from Master's Degree. He urged the guests not to be afraid, to strive for their goals and not to be afraid of new opportunities. For example, he encouraged them to occupy "the empty chair" if presented with the opportunity. "You learn more from failure than from success," he concluded.