Jaime Roldós Aguilera
Jaime Roldós Aguilera (November 5, 1940 – May 24, 1981) was President of Ecuador from 10 August 1979 until his death on 24 May 1981. In his short tenure, he became known for his firm stance on human rights.
Jaime Roldós Aguilera | |
|---|---|
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| President of Ecuador | |
| In office August 10, 1979 – May 24, 1981 | |
| Vice President | Osvaldo Hurtado Larrea |
| Preceded by | Consejo Supremo de Gobierno |
| Succeeded by | Osvaldo Hurtado Larrea |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 5, 1940 Guayaquil, Ecuador |
| Died | May 24, 1981 (aged 40) Huairapungo Mountain, Celica Canton, Loja Province, Ecuador |
| Political party | Concentration of People's Forces |
| Spouse(s) | Martha Bucaram |
| Alma mater | University of Guayaquil |
Roldós was born in Guayaquil on November 5, 1940. He attended high school at the Vicente Rocafuerte National School. He studied law and social sciences at the University of Guayaquil. He was an excellent student and won many awards, medals and scholarships.
At the age of 37, he ran for president on a populist platform. In the first round, he received the greatest number of votes, but not the 50% plus one needed to avoid a runoff.[1] He won the second round of elections against Sixto Durán Ballén, and assumed office on August 10, 1979.
He was married to Martha Bucaram until his death in 1981.
On May 24, 1981, a plane carrying the President, Minister of Defense, assistants and their spouses crashed into the Huairapungo Mountain, in Celica Canton of Loja Province. The crash left no survivors: killed along with the president were First Lady Martha Bucaram, Minister of Defense Marco Subía Martínez and his wife, as well as two aides-de-camp and three other passengers.