Conservative Party (Ecuador)
Encyclopedia
The Conservative Party was an Ecuador
ian conservative
party formed in 1869. Initially associated with the military of Ecuador
the PC became one of the two great parties of state in the country, alternating in power with the Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party
.
to be the party of state during one of his spells as President of Ecuador. The party would then divide the Presidency with the Liberals until the 1895 coup that brought the reformer Eloy Alfaro
to power, whilst the 1925 coup that ousted Gonzalo Córdova
(himself a Liberal) further entrenched reformist hegemony and damaged the PC.
The PC was able to regroup however, winning the elections in 1931 for Neptalí Bonifaz Ascásubi, albeit with the result annulled and in 1956 when their winning candidate Camilo Ponce Enríquez
assumed the Presidency. The PC candidate Otto Arosemena
was also appointed President in 1966 by the Constituent Assembly. Whilst a member of their party was not elected the Conservatives endorsed the victorious José María Velasco Ibarra
in 1933 and supported him again as part of the alliance to oust Carlos Alberto Arroyo del Río
after the Ecuadorian–Peruvian War and subsequent treaties.
the PC was a broad coalition featuring a number of interest groups. Foremost amongst these was the army which usually worked in close tandem with the PC.
The Roman Catholic Church
was the other great influence on the PC and the party sought to represent Catholicism in its most traditional form, to the extent that more radical elements broke away to form the Social Christian Party
under Ponce Enríquez. The two groups did subsequently co-operate however. A more radical Christian tendency also existed in the form of the Frente Anti-Comunista de Defensa Nacional (FADN), an anti-communist milita group active during the late 1940s. Distinct from the Christian tendency, although active around the same time as the FADN was the Alianza Revolucionaria Nacionalista Ecuatoriana, a tendency inspired by fascism
that sought to directly confront leftists.
, which was dominated by the Christian Social Party. The party continues to be an active force amongst its traditional stronghold of the landowers but has suffered due to the departure of Popular Democracy and the introduction of universal suffrage
which significantly reduced landowner influence.
In the 2009 elections
, a remnant of the Conservative Party, known as the Social Conservative Movement of Carchi, won a seat in the National Assembly of Ecuador from Carchi Province
.
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
ian conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
party formed in 1869. Initially associated with the military of Ecuador
Military of Ecuador
The Military of Ecuador is under civilian control. The commander-in-chief is the President of Ecuador, currently Rafael Correa. The military of Ecuador has been involved in border disputes with Peru , and has provided Military Observers and troops to the United Nations since 1948.-Mission:The...
the PC became one of the two great parties of state in the country, alternating in power with the Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party
Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party
The Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party is a liberal party in Ecuador and the oldest existing political party in Ecuador....
.
Development
The PC was formed by Gabriel García MorenoGabriel García Moreno
Gabriel Gregorio Fernando José María García y Moreno y Morán de Buitrón was an Ecuadorian statesman who twice served as President of Ecuador and was assassinated during his second term, after being elected to a third term...
to be the party of state during one of his spells as President of Ecuador. The party would then divide the Presidency with the Liberals until the 1895 coup that brought the reformer Eloy Alfaro
Eloy Alfaro
José Eloy Alfaro Delgado was the President of Ecuador from 1895 to 1901 and from 1906 to 1911. He became one the strongest opponents of pro-Catholic conservative President Gabriel Garcia Moreno...
to power, whilst the 1925 coup that ousted Gonzalo Córdova
Gonzalo Córdova
Gonzalo Segundo Córdova y Rivera was President of Ecuador from 1924-1925. Like his immediate predecessors in the Liberal Party, he was considered to be a pawn of "La Argolla" , a plutocracy of coastal agricultural and banking interests whose linchpin was the Commercial and Agricultural Bank of...
(himself a Liberal) further entrenched reformist hegemony and damaged the PC.
The PC was able to regroup however, winning the elections in 1931 for Neptalí Bonifaz Ascásubi, albeit with the result annulled and in 1956 when their winning candidate Camilo Ponce Enríquez
Camilo Ponce Enríquez
Camilo Ponce Enríquez can mean:* Camilo Ponce Enríquez , an Ecuadorian politician* Camilo Ponce Enríquez...
assumed the Presidency. The PC candidate Otto Arosemena
Otto Arosemena
Otto Arosemena Gómez was President of Ecuador November 16, 1966 to September 1, 1968.-Early life and career:Arosemena was born in Guayaquil to Luis Alberto Arosemena Tola and Mercedes Gómez Santistevan on July 19, 1925. He came from a well-known Guayaquil family; his cousin and his cousin's father...
was also appointed President in 1966 by the Constituent Assembly. Whilst a member of their party was not elected the Conservatives endorsed the victorious José María Velasco Ibarra
José María Velasco Ibarra
José María Velasco Ibarra was an Ecuadorian political figure. He served as the president of Ecuador from 1934–1935, 1944–1947, 1952–1956, 1960–1961, and 1968-1972. He only served one of those terms without being ousted by the army, from 1952-1956.-Early life and career:Velasco Ibarra was born on...
in 1933 and supported him again as part of the alliance to oust Carlos Alberto Arroyo del Río
Carlos Alberto Arroyo del Río
Carlos Alberto Arroyo del Río was President of Ecuador from 1940-1944. He was a member of the Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party. During his term, the country lost the 1941 Ecuadorian–Peruvian War.-External links:*...
after the Ecuadorian–Peruvian War and subsequent treaties.
Tendencies
Like many traditional political parties in South AmericaSouth America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
the PC was a broad coalition featuring a number of interest groups. Foremost amongst these was the army which usually worked in close tandem with the PC.
The Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
was the other great influence on the PC and the party sought to represent Catholicism in its most traditional form, to the extent that more radical elements broke away to form the Social Christian Party
Social Christian Party (Ecuador)
The Social Christian Party is a center-right political party in Ecuador.The party was founded by Camilo Ponce Enríquez and was initially focused on Quito...
under Ponce Enríquez. The two groups did subsequently co-operate however. A more radical Christian tendency also existed in the form of the Frente Anti-Comunista de Defensa Nacional (FADN), an anti-communist milita group active during the late 1940s. Distinct from the Christian tendency, although active around the same time as the FADN was the Alianza Revolucionaria Nacionalista Ecuatoriana, a tendency inspired by fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
that sought to directly confront leftists.
Later years
By the 1960s the PC, along with their Liberal rivals, had faded somewhat from their leading position in Ecuadorian politics. By the 1980s both parties were junior partners in the Frente de Reconstrución Nacional coalition of León Febres CorderoLeón Febres Cordero
León Esteban Febres-Cordero Ribadeneyra was President of Ecuador for a four-year term from 10 August 1984 to 10 August 1988...
, which was dominated by the Christian Social Party. The party continues to be an active force amongst its traditional stronghold of the landowers but has suffered due to the departure of Popular Democracy and the introduction of universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
which significantly reduced landowner influence.
In the 2009 elections
Ecuadorian general election, 2009
An early general election was held on 26 April 2009 in Ecuador following the approval of a new constitution in a referendum held on 28 September 2008. President Rafael Correa ran for his first term under the new constitution...
, a remnant of the Conservative Party, known as the Social Conservative Movement of Carchi, won a seat in the National Assembly of Ecuador from Carchi Province
Carchi Province
- Economy :The provincial economy is based on industrial, and agriculture productions. Carchi produces food, drinks, tobacco, and dairy products. The agriculture sector produces potatoes, maize, etc. - Cantons :The province is divided into 6 cantons...
.