Yaku Pérez Guartambel

Ecuadorian politician

Yaku Sacha Pérez Guartambel (born Carlos Ranulfo, 26 February 1969), often simply known as Yaku Pérez, is an Ecuadorian politician and indigenous rights activist. He unsuccessfully ran for President of Ecuador in the 2021 election.[1] He came in third place and did not qualify for the second round.[2] He is running for president again in the 2023 election.

Yaku Pérez Guartambel
26th Provincial Prefect of Azuay Province
In office
14 May 2019 – 5 October 2020
Preceded byBolívar Saquipay
Succeeded byCecilia Méndez Mora
President and Coordinator-General of Andean Coordination of Indigenous Organizations
Assumed office
19 January 2017
Preceded byGerardo Jumí Tapias
President of ECUARUNARI
In office
21 April 2013 – January 2019
Preceded byDelfín Tenesaca
Succeeded byBlanca Chancoso
Personal details
Born
Carlos Ranulfo Pérez Guartambel

(1969-02-26) 26 February 1969 (age 55)
Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador
Political partyPachakutik
Spouse(s)
Verónica Cevallos
(m. 1998; death 2012)
Children4
EducationUniversity of Cuenca (JD, Diploma in Watershed Management)
Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (Specialization in Environmental Law)
University of Los Andes (Master in Criminal Law and Criminology)

Activism

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He is ethnically Cañari,[3] Pérez is a member of the eco-socialist Pachakutik Party.

He has been called an "anti-mining activist", Pérez has been involved in protests against water privatization efforts and the proposed Quimsacocha mining project.[4]

Political career

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On 14 May 2019, he was elected as Provincial Prefect of the Azuay Province.[5] He became well known during the 2019 demonstrations against President Lenín Moreno's neoliberal economic policies.

2021 presidential election

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In 2020, he announced his first presidential campaign to replace President Lenin Moreno in the 2021 election. In February 2021 during the first round of voting, Pérez Guartambel came in third place, losing to Guillermo Lasso for the second place to advance in the run-off in April.[2]

2023 presidential election

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In May 2023, he announced his second presidential campaign to replace Guillermo Lasso in the 2023 election.[6]

References

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  1. "Guillermo Lasso y Yaku Pérez disputan voto a voto el pase a la segunda vuelta en las elecciones de Ecuador". El Universo (in Spanish). 8 February 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Leftist Arauz, conservative Lasso advance to Ecuador presidential run-off". Buenos Aires Times. 22 February 2021.
  3. "Yacu Sacha: músico y defensor del agua". Revista Mundo Diner (in Spanish). 5 October 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  4. Hora, Diario La. "El azuayo Carlos Pérez Guartambel preside la Ecuarunari - La Hora". La Hora Noticias de Ecuador, sus provincias y el mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  5. "Con el 99% escrutado, Yaku Pérez Guartambel es el nuevo Prefecto del Azuay" (in Spanish). 25 March 2019. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
  6. "YAKU PÉREZ Y GUSTAVO LARREA CONSOLIDAN UN ACUERDO POLÍTICO ENTRE SOMOS AGUA Y DEMOCRACIA SÍ". PlanV. Retrieved 18 May 2023.