Gustavo Larrea

Larrea began his political career in the 1990s, advocating for democratic reforms and greater transparency in government.He served as a congressman in Ecuador's National Congress before being appointed Minister of Government under President Rafael Correa in 2006.^[7]

As Minister of Government (equivalent to Interior Minister), Larrea played a pivotal role in the early years of Rafael Correa's presidency. He participated in the implementation of internal security policies and the restructuring of Ecuador's intelligence services.He was widely seen as one of Correa's closest advisors during the formation of the Alianza PAIS political movement.^[8][9]

In 2008, Gustavo Larrea was accused by Colombian officials of having ties to the FARC guerrilla group after the raid on a FARC camp in Ecuadorian territory. Documents allegedly found in a computer belonging to FARC leader Raúl Reyes mentioned meetings with Ecuadorian officials, including Larrea. Larrea denied any wrongdoing, stating that any meetings were part of peace negotiations and authorized by the government.^[10][11][12]

Ecuador's own intelligence and legal institutions did not pursue criminal charges against Larrea.He publicly criticized the Colombian government's violation of Ecuadorian sovereignty during the raid, reinforcing his claim that Ecuador's government was committed to peace and territorial integrity.^[13]

After leaving Correa's government, Larrea distanced himself from Alianza PAIS and founded his own political movement called “Democracia Sí” in 2017.The party aimed to provide an alternative to both Correa's populism and the traditional right-wing establishment in Ecuador. Larrea has since been active in promoting constitutional reforms and anti-corruption policies.^[14][15]

Larrea has faced criticism from both sides of Ecuador's political spectrum. Correa loyalists accused him of betrayal for launching a rival political party, while others questioned his role in the FARC scandal. Despite this, no court has found Larrea guilty of any criminal misconduct, and he continues to be an influential voice in Ecuadorian politics.^[8]