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Crisis in Ecuador as 3 claim presidency
Congress votes 'The Crazy one' out of office
In this story:
- Military on the sidelines, for now
- Street clashes
- Populist turns unpopular
- Related stories and sites
February 7, 1997
Web posted at: 10:24 a.m. EST (1524 GMT)QUITO, Ecuador (CNN) -- The disputed ouster of Ecuador's president left three people on Friday claiming to be in charge of the South American country.
Ecuador's military, which said it would not intervene, called for a quick solution to the political crisis created after Congress voted Thursday night to remove President Abdala Bucaram from office for "mental incapacity."
Bucaram, who refers to himself as "El Loco," or "The Crazy One" because of his unconventional behavior on the campaign trail and in office, refused to recognize the vote.
Congress swore in its leader , Fabian Alarcon, to replace him as interim president as Bucaram vowed defiantly to serve out his term. Vice President Rosalia Arteaga also issued a decree declaring her own right to the presidency.
All three "presidents" were in their offices Friday surrounded by their staff and supporters.
Military on the sidelines, for now
Ecuador's military leaders, including Armed Forces Chief of Staff Paco Moncayo, issued a statement calling on the three claimants to power to "initiate a dialogue to find a solution" to the crisis.
Moncayo said the military was "absolutely apolitical" and would not seek to fill the power vacuum. The military, which ruled Ecuador for seven years until 1970, could serve as a mediator to end political infighting, military leaders said in a statement.
"A solution cannot be awaited for too long," the statement said, leading to speculation about a military coup.
Ecuador's Constitution is extremely vague on who should replace a sitting president and it was not immediately clear if Bucaram, or anyone else could mount a serious legal challenge to Alarcon's appointment as acting president until the end of Bucaram's term -- August 1998.
Street clashes
The standoff led to confrontation on Thursday night as army troops clashed with thousands of pro-Alarcon demonstrators who ringed the presidential palace demanding Bucaram leave office immediately.
1M/29 sec. QuickTime movie
Troops used tear gas and fired a few volleys of rifle shots into the air to disperse the demonstrators.
Arteaga, who is at odds with both Bucaram and Alarcon, insists Bucaram's ouster was unconstitutional and that only she could take over the presidency.
Populist turns unpopular
Bucaram took office six months ago, promising to be the president of Ecuador's vast army of poor.
But his ouster by Congress came after the country was shut down by a massive nationwide strike on Wednesday and Thursday to protest the severe belt-tightening measures his government clamped on Ecuador in early January.
The measures helped drive Bucaram's approval rating down almost as quickly as the cost of living shot up. They included electricity and gas rate hikes totaling more than 200 percent and a 60 percent rise in bus fares.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Invoking 'mental incapacity' rule, Ecuador fires president - February 6, 1997
- Ecuador tires of its 'loco' leader, wants him out - February 6, 1997
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