The presidency of Ecuador has been marked by periods of instability, causing the office to change hands frequently throughout the
history of the country. At least five times, presidential duties have been assumed by a
provisional government or a
military junta. Often, the office has been left to an interim or
acting president, many of whom would go on to become president. The president who has had the most terms in office is
José María Velasco Ibarra, who served five. In May 2017
Rafael Correa became the first President in over two decades to complete his terms in office since
Sixto Durán Ballén, who served from 1992 to 1996. Before Correa, a period of deep political instability from 1996 to 2006 also saw a
grave economic crisis in 1998–2000. During this time, Durán Ballén's three elected successors,
Abdalá Bucaram,
Jamil Mahuad and
Lucio Gutiérrez, were deposed in popular revolts, followed by military or legislative ''
coups d'état'', in 1997,
2000, and
2005, respectively. Since Correa,
Lenín Moreno had also completed a full, four-year term (2017–2021), despite a large
2019 popular revolt that nearly toppled his government. ==List of presidents==