Segundo Leonidas Iza Salazar (born c. 1982) is an Ecuadorian activist and indigenous leader of Kichwa-Panzaleo ancestry who is serving as the president of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) since 27 June 2021. [1] Alongside Jaime Vargas, Iza led the demonstrations held in Ecuador in October 2019 by the CONAIE against the economic measures taken by the then-government of Lenín Moreno. [2]
He was born to José María Iza Viracocha and Rosa Elvira Salazar; the former was a historical indigenous leader. Additionally, he is the cousin of Leonidas Iza Quinatoa, a former congressman and participant in the first indigenous uprising. [3] He studied Environmental Engineering at the Technical University of Cotopaxi. He also claims to have read writings of leftist thinkers, highlighting, among those that have influenced his thinking, Eduardo Galeano's essay entitled The Open Veins of Latin America and the work of José Carlos Mariátegui. [3]
His activity in the indigenous movement as a catechist began at the age of fifteen after reading Galeano's work. [3] He later became president of the community of San Ignacio de Toacaso in Latacunga Canton in 2010, ultimately becoming a member and later leader of the Youth Commission 2013, and of the Provincial Committee of Pachakutik. [4] [5] In 2012, he noted his party's opposition to the 2013 Ecuador presidential election of Auki Tituaña as Guillermo Lasso's running mate. [6]
During the Congress of the Indigenous and Peasant Movement of Cotopaxi (MICC), which was held between September 30-October 1, 2016, he was elected president of the organization. Representing the Union of Peasant Organizations of North Cotopaxi (Unocan) and with the support of twenty-two other organizations, he managed to beat Manuel Vega (75 votes) and Gerardo Saca (18 votes) by securing a total of 102 votes. [7]
Leonidas Iza is the new president of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE). Iza represented the Indigenous and Peasant Movement of Cotopaxi (MICC) and managed to capture votes from some of the delegates from the Coast, the Amazon, and the Highlands. His nomination was confirmed on Sunday, June 27, 2021, on the last day of the VII National Congress of the CONAIE, which was held in the town of Salasaca, in the Province of Tungurahua, Ecuador. Iza achieved 821 votes; María Andrade, 287; and Marco Guatemal, 153. [8]
During the 2022 Ecuadorian protests, initially launched due to rising fuel prices and continued discrimination against the indigenous population, he was arrested by police on June 15 in the Pastocalle Sector, Cotopaxi. [9]
In July 2022 talks broke down between the executive and Iza after the President said that talks were off. The President had meetings with Iza and others with mediation from church leaders - despite an attack on a military convoy in Orellana province. Diana Atamaint (as president of the National Electoral Council), the National Assembly President Virgilio Saquicela and César Córdova of the CPCCS all called on the President for calm and to continue talks. [10]
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The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or, more commonly, CONAIE, is Ecuador's largest indigenous rights organization. The Ecuadorian Indian movement under the leadership of CONAIE is often cited as the best-organized and most influential Indigenous movement in Latin America.
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The 2019 Ecuadorian protests were a series of protests and riots against austerity measures including the cancellation of fuel subsidies, adopted by President of Ecuador Lenín Moreno and his administration. Organized protests ceased after indigenous groups and the Ecuadorian government reached a deal to reverse the austerity measures, beginning a collaboration on how to combat overspending and public debt.
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Yaku Sacha Pérez Guartambel, often simply known as Yaku Pérez, is an Ecuadorian politician and indigenous rights, human rights activist, who ran for president of the country in the 2021 presidential elections and came third in the first round. He ran for president again in the 2023 elections.
Snap general elections were held in Ecuador on 20 August 2023 to vote for President of Ecuador, members of the National Assembly and two referendums. Elections followed the invocation of muerte cruzada, which dissolved the National Assembly on 17 May 2023. A run-off election was held on 15 October 2023 to elect the President after candidates were unable to reach the threshold needed to win in the first round. Incumbent president Guillermo Lasso was eligible for a second term, but he announced on 18 May that he would not stand for re-election.
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Javier Virgilio Saquicela Espinoza is an Ecuadorian lawyer and politician who was the President of the National Assembly of Ecuador from 2022 to 2023. He served as mayor of Azogues between 2014 and 2019. He was ousted as President of the National Assembly after President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the National Assembly on 17 May 2023.
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A series of protests against the economic policies of Ecuadorian president Guillermo Lasso, triggered by increasing fuel and food prices, began on 13 June 2022. Initiated by and primarily attended by Indigenous activists, in particular the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), the protests have since been joined by students and workers who have also been affected by the price increases. Lasso condemned the protests and labelled them as an attempted "coup d'état" against his government.
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