Mamerto Urriolagoitia
Encyclopedia
Mamerto Urriolagoitía Harriague (born in Sucre
on December 5, 1895; died in Sucre
on June 4, 1974) was President of Bolivia
, from 1949 to 1951. Of privileged background, he studied in France and later joined the Bolivia
n diplomatic service. In 1947, Urriolagoitia was elected Vice-President
to Dr. Enrique Hertzog
and endured the constant pressures for reform emanating from the poorest sectors of society. A hard-liner when it came to dealing with the opposition, he was preferred by the threatened conservatist elites (some would say the forces of reaction), who in 1949 forced President Hertzog to resign. Thus, Urriolagoitia became chief executive and immediately stepped up the repression of the reformist movement, quickly amalgamating behind the Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario (Nationalist Revolutionary Movement) of Víctor Paz Estenssoro
, Juan Lechín, Hernán Siles Zuazo
, and others. A counter-reaction took place and a series of violent nation-wide rebellions catalyzed the so-called Civil War of May-September 1949. The Urriolagoitia government barely regained control of the situation, but the die was cast on the moribund "Oligarchic State" of 1880-1936, resuscitated only temporarily (1940-43 and 1946-52) by the economic and mining interests that upheld it.
In the 1951 presidential elections, time finally caught up with the system, and the opposition party, led by Víctor Paz Estenssoro
, was declared the winner, despite the fact that under current law only the privileged, educated, and propertied could vote. That is how widespread the calls for fundamental change had become. Urriolagoitia, however, refused to even consider turning over his presidential sash to Paz. Instead, he did something almost unheard of in politics: he willingly installed as President the head of the Bolivian military, General Hugo Ballivián
Rojas, thus unilaterally inflicting a coup against himself and the democratic order. This came to be known as the "Mamertazo" of 1951. With the elections annulled and Ballivián firmly installed in the Palacio Quemado
, Urriolagoitia left the country. Retired from politics, he returned in later years and died in his native Sucre on June 4, 1974, at the age of 78.
Mamerto Urriolagoitia is best remembered for his inflexibility — and for being the last Constitutional President of the largely oligarchic social and political order that reigned in the country until the advent of the 1952 Revolution.
Sucre
Sucre, also known historically as Charcas, La Plata and Chuquisaca is the constitutional capital of Bolivia and the capital of the department of Chuquisaca. Located in the south-central part of the country, Sucre lies at an elevation of 2750m...
on December 5, 1895; died in Sucre
Sucre
Sucre, also known historically as Charcas, La Plata and Chuquisaca is the constitutional capital of Bolivia and the capital of the department of Chuquisaca. Located in the south-central part of the country, Sucre lies at an elevation of 2750m...
on June 4, 1974) was President of Bolivia
President of Bolivia
The President of Bolivia is head of state and head of government of Bolivia. According to the current Constitution, the president is elected by popular vote to a five year term, renewable once...
, from 1949 to 1951. Of privileged background, he studied in France and later joined the Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
n diplomatic service. In 1947, Urriolagoitia was elected Vice-President
Vice President of Bolivia
This is a list of Vice Presidents of Bolivia, the second highest political position in Bolivia. There are several gaps in the list, caused by intermittent political turmoil. The names of Vice Presidents who also were President at one time or another are given in bold text...
to Dr. Enrique Hertzog
Enrique Hertzog
Enrique Hertzog Garaizabal was a Bolivian politician who was elected President of his country in 1947...
and endured the constant pressures for reform emanating from the poorest sectors of society. A hard-liner when it came to dealing with the opposition, he was preferred by the threatened conservatist elites (some would say the forces of reaction), who in 1949 forced President Hertzog to resign. Thus, Urriolagoitia became chief executive and immediately stepped up the repression of the reformist movement, quickly amalgamating behind the Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario (Nationalist Revolutionary Movement) of Víctor Paz Estenssoro
Víctor Paz Estenssoro
Ángel Víctor Paz Estenssoro was a politician and president of Bolivia. He ran for president 8 times , winning in 1951, 1960, 1964, and 1985....
, Juan Lechín, Hernán Siles Zuazo
Hernán Siles Zuazo
Hernán Siles Zuazo was a politician from Bolivia. He served as his country's constitutionally elected president twice, from 1956 to 1960 and again from 1982 to 1985....
, and others. A counter-reaction took place and a series of violent nation-wide rebellions catalyzed the so-called Civil War of May-September 1949. The Urriolagoitia government barely regained control of the situation, but the die was cast on the moribund "Oligarchic State" of 1880-1936, resuscitated only temporarily (1940-43 and 1946-52) by the economic and mining interests that upheld it.
In the 1951 presidential elections, time finally caught up with the system, and the opposition party, led by Víctor Paz Estenssoro
Víctor Paz Estenssoro
Ángel Víctor Paz Estenssoro was a politician and president of Bolivia. He ran for president 8 times , winning in 1951, 1960, 1964, and 1985....
, was declared the winner, despite the fact that under current law only the privileged, educated, and propertied could vote. That is how widespread the calls for fundamental change had become. Urriolagoitia, however, refused to even consider turning over his presidential sash to Paz. Instead, he did something almost unheard of in politics: he willingly installed as President the head of the Bolivian military, General Hugo Ballivián
Hugo Ballivián
Hugo Ballivián Rojas was de facto President of Bolivia between 1951 and 1952. A career military officer, he was Commander of the Bolivian Armed Forces when President Mamerto Urriolagoitia called upon him to take over as extra-Constitutional chief executive in order to prevent the swearing-in of...
Rojas, thus unilaterally inflicting a coup against himself and the democratic order. This came to be known as the "Mamertazo" of 1951. With the elections annulled and Ballivián firmly installed in the Palacio Quemado
Palacio Quemado
The Palacio Quemado is a popular name to denote the Bolivian Palace of Government, located on Plaza Murillo in downtown La Paz. It is the building from which the Bolivian executive conducts its business.The building has had many incarnations...
, Urriolagoitia left the country. Retired from politics, he returned in later years and died in his native Sucre on June 4, 1974, at the age of 78.
Mamerto Urriolagoitia is best remembered for his inflexibility — and for being the last Constitutional President of the largely oligarchic social and political order that reigned in the country until the advent of the 1952 Revolution.