Page "History of Ecuador" Paragraph 73

In 1996, Abdalá Bucaram, from the populist Ecuadorian Roldosista Party, won the presidency on a platform that promised populist economic and social reforms.

Almost from the start, Bucaram's administration languished amidst widespread allegations of corruption.

Empowered by the president's unpopularity with organized labor, business, and professional organizations alike, Congress unseated Bucaram in February 1997 on grounds of mental incompetence.

The Congress replaced Bucaram with Interim President Fabián Alarcón.