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Lenin Moreno, the former President of Ecuador, has lived quite the interesting life. Paralyzed in 1998 in a robbery, Lenin went on to become one of the most powerful wheelchair users in political history.
Although he is maligned, his power as someone with a spinal cord injury cannot be denied historically. Not only is he an interesting individual, he shows that having a spinal cord injury cannot stop someone from their political aspirations. Read on for his unfiltered story.
Why He’s Fearless
Growing up in the rural Amazon forest, Lenin was raised among natives and Latinos, giving him a positive, inter-connected outlook on humanity. After his injury, he took the positive road by believing in the power of laughter, and went on to write several books on the importance of humor including, Ríase, no sea enfermo (Laugh, don’t be sick).
And in 2006 until 2013, he was elected and served as Vice President of Ecuador (he started out as a lawyer, eventually getting into politics). In the 7 years he served, he helped create a $300/month Social Security-like program for Ecuador’s disabled citizens. The country also provides prosthetics, employment, and equipment like wheelchairs because of Lenin. This program is called Manuela Espejo Solidarity Mission
Also while Vice-President, he personally visited the homes of hundreds of people with disabilities, some who have never left their homes before, to bring awareness to this underrepresented population. His disability rights improvements in Ecuador garnered him a nominated for Nobel Peace Prize in 2012.
Moreno decided to retire in 2013, alongside his running mate and President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, but he didn’t stay retired from politics for long.
What’s Next?
In 2017, he was recruited as a candidate for the Correa’s PAIS Alliance, a democratic socialist political party. He narrowly won the 2017 presidential election, serving until 2021. A conservative, he faced a large amount of criticism while he served. Many people were upset with him for reducing tax rates for large companies, as well as relaxing environmental policies, such a supporting Oil Drilling in Ecuador’s Amazon region.
Sadly, Lenin did not serve as brilliantly as he did when vice-president, and was ousted out of his own party in 2021. Now officially retired, he is enjoying life with his wife, two daughters and grandchildren. He is also a huge of Stephen Hawking, whom he met in 2012. Lenin at one point wanted to study the link between quantum physics and human values, and he is also a passionate singer.
ideas@spinalpedia.com
