Juan Natalicio González
Encyclopedia
Juan Natalicio González Paredes (8 September 1897 - 1966) was a Paraguayan poet who served as President of Paraguay
from 15 August 1948 to 30 December 1948.
in the department of Guairá
. Having lost his parents, he moved to Asunción
, Paraguay's capital, in 1912 to finish his high school studies. In 1915, he graduated from the Colegio Nacional de Asunción (Asunción's National College), and planned to study medicine in the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (Asunción's National University). But in that same year, the government shut down the UNA's medical school. Meanwhile, Natalicio started developing a career as journalist and writer, and became affiliated with the Colorado Party
. He had no further formal education, but he achieved an outstanding intellectual level through a very disciplined self-education.
In 1928 he married Lydia Frutos, a well-known Paraguayan socialite. Lydia was famous for her beauty and also for her high intellectual level, having graduated from educational institutions abroad.
, political commentary, and historical essays.
In 1920 he moved to Buenos Aires
, Argentina
, where he worked for a major publishing company. His duties allowed him to travel all over South America
and meet politicians, writers, and intellectuals from different South American countries.
In 1923 he moved to Paris
, to work with a Paraguayan publishing company. He spent two years in Europe
, returning to Paraguay at the end of 1924.
After he returned to Asunción, he became more active in the Colorado Party. He reached higher positions in the Party's organization and, by 1926, he was one of the leading party members who negotiatiated for a new electoral law with the ruling Liberals
.
Unfortunately for the Colorados, the negotiations with the Liberal government became a source of division within the Colorado Party. The abstencionistas were reluctant to negotiate anything with the government; they supported abstention from voting to channel popular discontent against the government and bring about a non-violent revolution. The eleccionistas responded positively to the government's calls for a political ceasefire. Natalicio was one of the main and most dynamic leader of the eleccionistas.
Finally, by 1927, the new electoral law passed and was applied for the first time in the legislative elections held in the beginning of that year. The eleccionista Colorado Party won some seats in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, forming a minority bloc. The Colorado senators were mostly former ministers and intellectual leaders during past Colorado governments, while the Deputies included new younger figures, mostly teachers and journalists, who were developing new political idea. Natalicio was the leader of this group, and acted as minority leader during his tenure as Deputy.
However by 1929, Natalicio was not satisfied with the way Paraguayan politics were going. He did not expect the Colorados to get anything at all from participating in electoral politics and the legislature while the Liberals were in power.
In 1929 Natalicio asked the Chamber of Deputies for permission to leave his post and travel to Europe with his wife.
, who had been a de facto dictator, threatened a coup d´état to keep power. and was himself deposed by a coup on 3 June. Juan Manuel Frutos
became interim president until Natalicio took office on 15 August.
One of the most important acts of his administration was the nationalization of the American Light and Traction Company (CALT), which later became the Ande. One of his famous phrases was: "There will be no red poor"; this led him to give important and politically powerful positions to
representatives of all sections of the Colorado Party.
From the start of his term, there were rumors that he would not finish his term of office. On 26 October 1948 dissident Colorados attempted a coup d'état against him. The rebellion was blocked by loyalist forces, but Natalicio could not hold out for long. On 29 January 1949 another coup broke out, initiated by Felipe Molas López
, Federico Chaves, and defense minister General Raimundo Rolón
, who controlled the military forces. Natalicio resigned on early morning of 30 January, and General Rolón took power.
Natalicio González was again driven into exile. On 7 February 1949 he went to Buenos Aires. In 1950, he went to Mexico
. He was the last intellectual to hold the presidency of the Republic in the twentieth century.
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
from 15 August 1948 to 30 December 1948.
Early life
Natalicio González was born in VillarricaVillarrica, Paraguay
Villarrica is a city located in the middle of the Oriental Region of the Paraguayan territory, is capital of the Guairá Department. It was founded by the Spanish Captain Ruy Diaz de Melgarejo on May 14, 1570 in the old Guaira, today in Brazilian territory....
in the department of Guairá
Guairá Department
Guairá is a department in Paraguay. The capital is the city of Villarrica.It covers a surface of , with a population of 178130 inhabitants .You can get there through the Road nª8 Blas Garay...
. Having lost his parents, he moved to Asunción
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
, Paraguay's capital, in 1912 to finish his high school studies. In 1915, he graduated from the Colegio Nacional de Asunción (Asunción's National College), and planned to study medicine in the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (Asunción's National University). But in that same year, the government shut down the UNA's medical school. Meanwhile, Natalicio started developing a career as journalist and writer, and became affiliated with the Colorado Party
Colorado Party (Paraguay)
The National Republican Association – Colorado Party is a political party in Paraguay, founded in 1887 by Bernardino Caballero. It is usually known as the Colorado Party...
. He had no further formal education, but he achieved an outstanding intellectual level through a very disciplined self-education.
In 1928 he married Lydia Frutos, a well-known Paraguayan socialite. Lydia was famous for her beauty and also for her high intellectual level, having graduated from educational institutions abroad.
Politician and writer
Natalicio was associate with some of the intellectuals of the Colorado Party, His links with people like Juan O'Leary, Fulgencio R. Moreno, Antolín Irala, among others, made possible for him to achieve prominence in the party's organization and propaganda machinery. Very soon he became the main writer for some newspapers linked to the Colorado Party, like Patria, Colorado, and El Pais. At the same time, he published some books of poetryPoetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, political commentary, and historical essays.
In 1920 he moved to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, where he worked for a major publishing company. His duties allowed him to travel all over South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
and meet politicians, writers, and intellectuals from different South American countries.
In 1923 he moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, to work with a Paraguayan publishing company. He spent two years in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, returning to Paraguay at the end of 1924.
After he returned to Asunción, he became more active in the Colorado Party. He reached higher positions in the Party's organization and, by 1926, he was one of the leading party members who negotiatiated for a new electoral law with the ruling Liberals
Liberal Party (Paraguay)
The Liberal Party , commonly known as the Blue Party was a political party in Paraguay, ruling the country for most of the period between 1904 and 1940.-References:...
.
Unfortunately for the Colorados, the negotiations with the Liberal government became a source of division within the Colorado Party. The abstencionistas were reluctant to negotiate anything with the government; they supported abstention from voting to channel popular discontent against the government and bring about a non-violent revolution. The eleccionistas responded positively to the government's calls for a political ceasefire. Natalicio was one of the main and most dynamic leader of the eleccionistas.
Finally, by 1927, the new electoral law passed and was applied for the first time in the legislative elections held in the beginning of that year. The eleccionista Colorado Party won some seats in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, forming a minority bloc. The Colorado senators were mostly former ministers and intellectual leaders during past Colorado governments, while the Deputies included new younger figures, mostly teachers and journalists, who were developing new political idea. Natalicio was the leader of this group, and acted as minority leader during his tenure as Deputy.
However by 1929, Natalicio was not satisfied with the way Paraguayan politics were going. He did not expect the Colorados to get anything at all from participating in electoral politics and the legislature while the Liberals were in power.
In 1929 Natalicio asked the Chamber of Deputies for permission to leave his post and travel to Europe with his wife.
Presidency
Natalicio was elected President on 14 February 1948; he was nominated by the Colorados, and was the only candidate. Incumbent President Higinio MorínigoHiginio Morínigo
General Higinio Morínigo Martínez was a Paraguayan dictator, general and political figure. He served as the President of Paraguay from 7 September 1940 to 3 June 1948....
, who had been a de facto dictator, threatened a coup d´état to keep power. and was himself deposed by a coup on 3 June. Juan Manuel Frutos
Juan Manuel Frutos
Juan Manuel Frutos was President of Paraguay in 1948. He was born in Asunción on June 12, 1879. His parents were José Dolores Frutos and Juliana Escurra, sister of the Colonel Juan Antonio Escurra .-His life:...
became interim president until Natalicio took office on 15 August.
One of the most important acts of his administration was the nationalization of the American Light and Traction Company (CALT), which later became the Ande. One of his famous phrases was: "There will be no red poor"; this led him to give important and politically powerful positions to
representatives of all sections of the Colorado Party.
From the start of his term, there were rumors that he would not finish his term of office. On 26 October 1948 dissident Colorados attempted a coup d'état against him. The rebellion was blocked by loyalist forces, but Natalicio could not hold out for long. On 29 January 1949 another coup broke out, initiated by Felipe Molas López
Felipe Molas López
Felipe Benigno Molas López was President of Paraguay from February 27, 1949 - September 10, 1949, when he resigned.- Childhood and Studies :Born in 1901. Once he completed high school, he pursued Dentistry in Paris...
, Federico Chaves, and defense minister General Raimundo Rolón
Raimundo Rolón
General Raimundo Rolón Villasanti was briefly President of Paraguay from January 30, 1949 to February 27, 1949....
, who controlled the military forces. Natalicio resigned on early morning of 30 January, and General Rolón took power.
Natalicio González was again driven into exile. On 7 February 1949 he went to Buenos Aires. In 1950, he went to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He was the last intellectual to hold the presidency of the Republic in the twentieth century.