Carlos Arosemena, 84; Ecuadorean President Ousted in 1963 Coup
Carlos Julio Arosemena, 84, the onetime president of Ecuador whose term ended in a 1963 military coup, died Friday in Guayaquil after a long illness, his family said.
Scion of a wealthy Guayaquil family, Arosemena earned his law degree at the University of Guayaquil and became active in liberal politics. Elected vice president in 1960, Arosemena rose to the presidency after the ouster of President Velasco Ibarra a year later in a military coup.
Arosemena continued an unpopular economic austerity program implemented by Ibarra, which resulted in a positive trade balance for Ecuador. After Arosemena survived two attempts to impeach him, the military overthrew him and sent him into exile in Panama.
The son and grandson of former presidents, Arosemena founded Ecuador’s Nationalist Revolutionary party. A lawyer by training, he also was a diplomat, university professor, senator, congressman and minister of defense.
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