Otto Sonnenholzner

Otto Ramón Sonnenholzner Sper (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈoto soneŋˈxol(t)sneɾ], locally [soneŋˈhol(t)sneɾ], German pronunciation: [ˈɔto ˈzɔnənˌhɔltsnɐ]; born 19 March 1983) is an Ecuadorian radio broadcaster, politician, and economist who served as the 50th Vice President of Ecuador from December 2018 to July 2020.[1] He was a candidate for President of Ecuador in the 2023 general election.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Sonnenholzner and the second or maternal family name is Sper.
Otto Sonnenholzner
50th Vice President of Ecuador
In office
11 December 2018 – 10 July 2020
PresidentLenín Moreno
Preceded byMaría Alejandra Vicuña
Succeeded byMaría Alejandra Muñoz
Personal details
Born
Otto Ramón Sonnenholzner Sper

(1983-03-19) 19 March 1983
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Political partyIndependent
SpouseClaudia Salem Barakat
Alma materSchiller International University
German School of Guayaquil
OccupationBroadcaster, journalist, economist, politician

Early life

Otto was born in Guayaquil on March 19, 1983, to father Ramón Sonnenholzner and mother Rosa Elena Sper. He is of German and Lebanese heritage. After studying social sciences, communication and international economics in Ecuador, Germany, and Spain, he became speaker and general manager of Tropicana radio, then president of the Ecuadorian Association of broadcasting (AER). He teaches at the University of Guayaquil.[2]

Vice presidency

After the resignation of María Alejandra Vicuña in December 2018, and at the proposal of President Lenín Moreno, the National Assembly of Ecuador entrusted him with the office of vice-president.

On July 7, 2020, Otto resigned from his position as Vice President due to the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic outbreak in Guayaquil. He left office in the middle of several corruption scandals affecting Moreno's administration.[3][4][5][6]

Post-political career

He signed the Madrid Charter, a document drafted by the far-right Spanish party Vox that describes Communist groups as enemies of Ibero-America involved in a "criminal project" that are "under the umbrella of the Cuban regime".[7]

2023 presidential campaign

Following the 2023 political crisis, Sonnenholzner announced his candidacy for President of Ecuador in the 2023 election.[8]

Personal life

He has three children with his wife, Claudia Salem Barakat.

References
  1. Valencia, Alexandra; Cohen, Luc (December 11, 2018). "Ecuador congress names 35-year-old broadcaster as new vice president". Reuters. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  2. "Otto Sonnenholzner expected to be confirmed as vice president by the National Assembly – CuencaHighLife". cuencahighlife.com. December 11, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  3. "El MSP investigará a funcionarios por entrega de carnés de discapacidad". GK (in Spanish). 2020-07-03. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  4. "Consejo de Participación dispone abrir investigación a supuesto 'reparto' de hospitales". El Universo (in Spanish). 2020-06-17. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  5. "Se descubre que la red que operó en hospitales del IESS vinculada a Salcedo también portaba carnés de discapacidad". Vistazo (in Spanish). 2020-06-25. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  6. "The Coronavirus in Ecuador - Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung". www.rosalux.de. 30 March 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
  7. "Carta de Madrid". Fundación Disenso (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  8. "Más actores políticos anuncian su intención de candidatizarse para presidente de Ecuador". Vistazo. Retrieved 18 May 2023.


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