The Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party (Partido Liberal Radical Ecuatoriana) is a liberal party in Ecuador and the oldest existing political party in Ecuador. The party came out of divisions between moderate and radical liberals in the Liberal Party of Ecuador. As in many Latin American countries, Ecuador experienced much conflict, often violent, between the Liberal and Conservative parties. The Liberal Party of Ecuador began its conflict with the Conservative Party of Ecuador shortly after independence in the 1820s. Eloy Alfaro brought the Radical Liberal Party to power during the revolution of 1895. Over the next 50 years several of its members served as presidents of Ecuador. The party was in power from 1895 to 1911, from 1912 to 1925, and from 1940 to 1944. Each time it was overthrown by military coups. After the 1944 coup the Radical Liberals never recovered power. The party continues to exist, but in a much weaker form. It participated in the 2002 presidential elections, with its candidate, Ivonne Juez de Baki, receiving 1.77% of the vote. It did not participate in the 2006 presidential elections and currently lacks representation in Congress. It retains nonetheless its important role in Ecuadorian history, having inspired several other political parties, and its founding leader, Eloy Alfaro, is still widely revered in Ecuador.
See also
- Alfaro, Eloy
- Contributions to liberal theory
- Liberal democracy
- Liberalism
- Liberalism and radicalism in Ecuador
- Liberalism worldwide
- List of liberal parties
