Osvaldo Hurtado

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Hurtado and the second or maternal family name is Larrea.

For the Chilean footballer, see Osvaldo Hurtado (footballer).

Osvaldo Hurtado
File:Osvaldo hurtado presidente.png
President of Ecuador
In office May 24, 1981 – August 10, 1984
Vice President	León Roldós Aguilera
Preceded by	Jaime Roldós Aguilera
Succeeded by	León Febres Cordero
Vice President of Ecuador
In office August 10, 1979 – May 24, 1981
President	Jaime Roldós Aguilera
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	Blasco Peñaherrera Padilla
President of the 1998 Constitutional Assembly
In office December 20, 1997 – May 8, 1998
Personal details
Born	Luis Osvaldo Hurtado Larrea (1939-06-26) June 26, 1939 Chambo, Chimborazo Province, Ecuador
Nationality	Ecuadorian
Political party	Popular Democracy
Alma mater	Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador
Occupation	Political scientist
Religion	Catholic

Luis Osvaldo Hurtado Larrea (born June 26, 1939 in Chambo, Chimborazo Province, Ecuador) is an Ecuadorian author and politician who served as President of Ecuador from 1981 to 1984.

During his studies at the Catholic University in the 1960s, Hurtado became a student leader. Afterwards, he lectured political sociology at his alma mater and at the Centro Andino of the University of New Mexico. He became one of the most widely read political scientists of his home country. In 1977, he authored an influential book on Ecuadorian politics titled El Poder Político en el Ecuador (English: "Political Power in Ecuador").

Hurtado drew progressive Catholics and younger professionals away from the Social Christian Party and into the Christian Democrats movement which was inspired by Christian communitarianism and Liberation theology and criticized capitalist exploitation. At the time, it was the most radical among Ecuador's non-Marxist parties and Hurtado was suspected by his right-wing opponents of being a "closet Marxist". In 1978, he merged his Christian Democrats with the progressive wing of the Conservative Party to form the Popular Democracy party.

In 1979, Hurtado was chosen as running mate of presidential candidate Jaime Roldós Aguilera of the populist Concentration of People's Forces. Roldós was successful and Hurtado became vice-president. On May 24, 1981, Jaime Roldós Aguilera died in a plane crash. Hurtado succeeded Roldós Aguilera as President of Ecuador and served out the rest of his term.

Hurtado is a member of the Club de Madrid.

External links

• Short Curriculum at EcuadorOnline

Political offices
Preceded by Vacant	Vice President of Ecuador 1979-1981	Succeeded by León Roldós Aguilera
Preceded by Jaime Roldós Aguilera	President of Ecuador 1981-1984	Succeeded by León Febres Cordero