From January 15, 2003 to April 20, 2005, he served as vice president, after which he was appointed to the presidency when the Ecuadorian Congress removed President Lucio Gutiérrez from power following a week of growing unrest with his government.
Periode 15 Januari 2003 - 20 April 2005, ia menjabat wakil presiden setelah ditunjuk sebagai presiden, ketika Kongres Ekuador mencopot jabatan Presiden Lucio Gutiérrez dari kekuasaannya setelah berlangsungnya unjuk rasa selama satu minggu terhadap pemerintahannya.