Marcos Pérez Jiménez
Encyclopedia
Marcos Evangelista Pérez Jiménez (25 April 1914 – 20 September 2001) was a soldier and Presidents of Venezuela from 1952 to 1958.
. His father, Juan Pérez Bustamante, was a farmer; his mother, Adela Jiménez, a schoolteacher. Pérez Jiménez attended school in his home town and in Colombia, and in 1934, he graduated from the Academia Militar de Venezuela, at the top of his class. He subsequently studied at military colleges in Peru
.
In 1945, Pérez Jiménez participated in a coup that helped install left wing Democratic Action party
founder, Rómulo Betancourt
, as President of the Revolutionary Government Junta
. After a constitutional change providing universal suffrage, elections were held in 1947
which resulted in the election of party member, Romulo Gallegos
. Fears of cuts in pay for military men, reduction and lack of modernization of army equipment led Pérez Jiménez and Lt. Colonel Carlos Delgado Chalbaud
to stage another coup in 1948, the 1948 Venezuelan coup d'état
(Chalbaud has always been incorrectly referred to by his father's last names. Carlos Chalbaud's name was Carlos Roman Chalbaud Gomez). Betancourt and Gallegos were exiled, political parties were suppressed, and the Communist Party was once again banished by the Military Junta headed by Delgado Chalbaud, and included Pérez Jiménez. After a clumsily arranged kidnaping that ended in the murder of Delgado Chalbaud, the Military Junta changed its name to a Government Junta, and reorganized itself with Pérez Jiménez pulling the string of puppet President, Germán Suárez Flamerich
. Results of the much anticipated 1952 elections were showing signs of rejection of the military government; it is widely believed that the junta fixed the results to show Pérez Jiménez as the winner.
called an election for 1952. When early results showed that the opposition leader was ahead and would win, the junta suspended the election and made Pérez provisional president on 2 December 1952. He became president on 19 April 1953. Soon afterward, he enacted a constitution that gave him dictatorial powers.
Pérez Jiménez (widely known as "P.J.") changed the name of the country, which had been "United States of Venezuela" since 1864, to "Republic of Venezuela". This name would remain until 1999, when it was changed it to Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
by a Constitutional referendum.
During his government, Pérez Jiménez undertook many infrastructure
projects, including construction of roads, bridges, government buildings, large public housing complexes and the symbolic Humboldt Hotel overlooking Caracas. The economy of Venezuela
developed rapidly during his term. Like most dictators, Pérez was not tolerant of criticism and his government ruthlessly pursued and suppressed the opposition. Opponents of his regime were painted as communists and often treated brutally. While Pérez was president of Venezuela, the government of the United States awarded him the U.S. Legion of Merit
.
Pérez Jiménez was up for reelection in 1957, but dispensed with these formalities. Instead, he held a plebiscite in which voters could only choose between voting "yes" or "no" to another term for the president. Predictably, Pérez Jiménez won by a large margin, though by all accounts the count was blatantly rigged.
Upon arrival in Venezuela he was imprisoned until his trial, which did not take place for another five years. Convicted of the charges, his sentence was commuted as he had already spent more time in jail while he awaited trial. He was then exiled to Spain. In 1968, he was elected to the Senate of Venezuela
, but his election was contested, and he was kept from taking office. A quick law was passed whereby former prisoners were excluded from participating in the governmental process.
Pérez had four daughters with his wife, Flor Chalbaud, and one daughter with Marita Lorenz
. He died in Alcobendas
, Madrid, Spain, at the age of 87.
Career
Marcos Evangelista Pérez Jiménez was born in Michelena, Táchira StateMichelena
Michelena is a town in Táchira state, Venezuela. It was founded in 1849 by José Amando Pérez. It has a population of 22.500.*Marcos Pérez Jiménez, a former president of Venezuela, was born there.*Source: Wikipedia in Spanish....
. His father, Juan Pérez Bustamante, was a farmer; his mother, Adela Jiménez, a schoolteacher. Pérez Jiménez attended school in his home town and in Colombia, and in 1934, he graduated from the Academia Militar de Venezuela, at the top of his class. He subsequently studied at military colleges in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
.
In 1945, Pérez Jiménez participated in a coup that helped install left wing Democratic Action party
Democratic Action
Democratic Action is a centrist Venezuelan political party established in 1941. The party and its antecedents played an important role in the early years of Venezuelan democracy, and led the government during Venezuela's first democratic period...
founder, Rómulo Betancourt
Rómulo Betancourt
Rómulo Ernesto Betancourt Bello , known as "The Father of Venezuelan Democracy", was President of Venezuela from 1945 to 1948 and again from 1959 to 1964, as well as leader of Accion Democratica, Venezuela's dominant political party in the 20th century...
, as President of the Revolutionary Government Junta
Military junta
A junta or military junta is a government led by a committee of military leaders. The term derives from the Spanish language junta meaning committee, specifically a board of directors...
. After a constitutional change providing universal suffrage, elections were held in 1947
Venezuelan presidential election, 1947
General elections were held in Venezuela on 14 December 1947. The presidential elections were won by Rómulo Gallegos of Democratic Action, who received 74.3% of the vote, whilst his party won 83 of the 110 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 38 of the 46 seats in the Senate. It was the first...
which resulted in the election of party member, Romulo Gallegos
Rómulo Gallegos
Rómulo Ángel del Monte Carmelo Gallegos Freire was a Venezuelan novelist and politician. For a period of some nine months during 1948, he was the first cleanly elected president in his country's history....
. Fears of cuts in pay for military men, reduction and lack of modernization of army equipment led Pérez Jiménez and Lt. Colonel Carlos Delgado Chalbaud
Carlos Delgado Chalbaud
Carlos Román Delgado Chalbaud Gómez was a Venezuelan career military officer, and as leader of a military junta was President of Venezuela from 1948 to 1950. By 1945 he was a high-ranking officer and was among the leaders of a military coup which brought to power the mass membership party...
to stage another coup in 1948, the 1948 Venezuelan coup d'état
1948 Venezuelan coup d'état
The 1948 Venezuelan coup d'état took place on 27 November 1948, when Carlos Delgado Chalbaud, Marcos Pérez Jiménez and Luis Felipe Llovera Páez overthrew the elected president Rómulo Gallegos. Gallegos had been elected in the Venezuelan presidential election, 1947 and taken office in February 1948...
(Chalbaud has always been incorrectly referred to by his father's last names. Carlos Chalbaud's name was Carlos Roman Chalbaud Gomez). Betancourt and Gallegos were exiled, political parties were suppressed, and the Communist Party was once again banished by the Military Junta headed by Delgado Chalbaud, and included Pérez Jiménez. After a clumsily arranged kidnaping that ended in the murder of Delgado Chalbaud, the Military Junta changed its name to a Government Junta, and reorganized itself with Pérez Jiménez pulling the string of puppet President, Germán Suárez Flamerich
Germán Suárez Flamerich
Germán Suárez Flamerich was President of Venezuela from 1950 to 1952.Flamerich was a lawyer, college professor, diplomat, and politician. He was president of the "Junta de Gobierno" 1950-1952, after the assassination of Carlos Delgado Chalbaud. His parents were J.M. Suárez and Clorinda Flamerich...
. Results of the much anticipated 1952 elections were showing signs of rejection of the military government; it is widely believed that the junta fixed the results to show Pérez Jiménez as the winner.
Presidency
The juntaMilitary dictatorship
A military dictatorship is a form of government where in the political power resides with the military. It is similar but not identical to a stratocracy, a state ruled directly by the military....
called an election for 1952. When early results showed that the opposition leader was ahead and would win, the junta suspended the election and made Pérez provisional president on 2 December 1952. He became president on 19 April 1953. Soon afterward, he enacted a constitution that gave him dictatorial powers.
Pérez Jiménez (widely known as "P.J.") changed the name of the country, which had been "United States of Venezuela" since 1864, to "Republic of Venezuela". This name would remain until 1999, when it was changed it to Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
by a Constitutional referendum.
During his government, Pérez Jiménez undertook many infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
projects, including construction of roads, bridges, government buildings, large public housing complexes and the symbolic Humboldt Hotel overlooking Caracas. The economy of Venezuela
Economy of Venezuela
The economy of Venezuela is largely based on the petroleum sector and manufacturing. Revenue from petroleum exports accounts for about 18% of the country's GDP and roughly 95% of total exports. Venezuela is the fifth largest member of OPEC by oil production. From the 1950s to the early 1980s the...
developed rapidly during his term. Like most dictators, Pérez was not tolerant of criticism and his government ruthlessly pursued and suppressed the opposition. Opponents of his regime were painted as communists and often treated brutally. While Pérez was president of Venezuela, the government of the United States awarded him the U.S. Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
.
Pérez Jiménez was up for reelection in 1957, but dispensed with these formalities. Instead, he held a plebiscite in which voters could only choose between voting "yes" or "no" to another term for the president. Predictably, Pérez Jiménez won by a large margin, though by all accounts the count was blatantly rigged.
Pérez Jiménez cabinet (1952–1958)
| Ministries | ||
|---|---|---|
| OFFICE | NAME | TERM |
| President | Marcos Pérez Jiménez | 1952–1958 |
| Home Affairs | Laureano Vallenilla Planchart | 1952–1958 |
| Luis Felipe Llovera Páez | 1958 | |
| Antonio Pérez Vivas | 1958 | |
| Foreign Relations | Aureliano Otañez | 1952–1956 |
| José Loreto Arismendi | 1956–1958 | |
| Carlos Felice Cardot | 1958 | |
| Finance | Aurelio Arreaza Arreaza | 1952–1953 |
| Pedro Guzmán Rivera | 1953–1958 | |
| José Giacopini Zárraga | 1958 | |
| Defense | Marcos Pérez Jiménez | 1952–1953 |
| Oscar Mazzei Carta | 1953–1958 | |
| Rómulo Fernández | 1958 | |
| Marcos Pérez Jiménez | 1958 | |
| Development | Silvio Gutiérrez | 1952–1958 |
| Carlos Larrazábal Ugueto | 1958 | |
| Public Works | Luis Eduardo Chataing | 1952–1953 |
| Julio Bacalao Lara | 1953–1956 | |
| Oscar Rodríguez Gragirena | 1956–1958 | |
| Oscar Mazzei | 1958 | |
| Education | Simón Becerra | 1952–1953 |
| José Loreto Arismendi | 1953–1956 | |
| Darío Parra | 1956–1958 | |
| Nestor Prato Chacón | 1958 | |
| Humberto Fernández Morán Humberto Fernández Morán Humberto Fernández-Morán Villalobos was a Venezuelan research scientist born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, renowned for inventing the diamond knife, significantly advancing the development of electromagnetic lenses for electron microscopy based on superconducting technology, and many other scientific... |
1958 | |
| Labor | Carlos Tinoco Rodil | 1952–1958 |
| Communications | Oscar Mazzei Carta | 1952–1953 |
| Félix Román Moreno | 1953–1956 | |
| Luis Felipe Llovera Páez | 1956–1958 | |
| José Saúl Guerrero Rosales | 1958 | |
| Luis Felipe Llovera Páez | 1958 | |
| Agriculture | Alberto Arvelo Torrealba Alberto Arvelo Torrealba Alberto Arvelo Torrealba , was a Venezuelan lawyer, educator and folklorical poet. Author of .Torrealba was born in Barinas. But in his youth, he moved to Caracas where he studied high school, and attended the Central University of Venezuela... |
1952–1953 |
| Armando Tamayo Suárez | 1953–1958 | |
| Luis Sánchez Mogollón | 1958 | |
| Health and Social Assistance | Pedro A. Gutiérrez Alfaro | 1952–1958 |
| Justice | Luis Felipe Urbaneja | 1952–1958 |
| Héctor Parra Márquez | 1958 | |
| Mines and Hydrocarbons | Edmundo Luongo Cabello | 1952–1958 |
| Secretary of Presidency | Raúl Soulés Baldó | 1952–1958 |
Post-Presidency
In January 1958, there was a general uprising and, with rioting in the streets, Pérez left the country. He moved to the United States, where he lived until 1963, when he was extradited to Venezuela on charges of embezzling $200 million during his presidential tenure. The 1959–63 extradition of Perez, related to Financiadora Administradora Inmobiliaria, S.A., one of the largest development companies in South America, and other business connections, is considered by academicians to be a classic study in the precedent for enforcement of administrative honesty in Latin American countries.Upon arrival in Venezuela he was imprisoned until his trial, which did not take place for another five years. Convicted of the charges, his sentence was commuted as he had already spent more time in jail while he awaited trial. He was then exiled to Spain. In 1968, he was elected to the Senate of Venezuela
National Assembly of Venezuela
The National Assembly is the legislative branch of the Venezuelan government. It is a unicameral body made up of a variable number of members, who are elected by "universal, direct, personal, and secret" vote partly by direct election in state-based voting districts, and partly on a state-based...
, but his election was contested, and he was kept from taking office. A quick law was passed whereby former prisoners were excluded from participating in the governmental process.
Pérez had four daughters with his wife, Flor Chalbaud, and one daughter with Marita Lorenz
Marita Lorenz
Marita Lorenz is a German woman who had an affair with Fidel Castro in 1959 and in January 1960 was involved in an assassination attempt by the CIA on Castro's life. She later had a child with the Venezuelan former dictator Marcos Pérez Jiménez.In the 1970s she testified regarding the John F...
. He died in Alcobendas
Alcobendas
Alcobendas is a city located in the Community of Madrid, central Spain. It is located roughly 13 km north of Madrid and 7 km from the Barajas International Airport. It includes a central urban zone, a recently built district known as Valdelasfuentes, La Moraleja and El Soto de la...
, Madrid, Spain, at the age of 87.
See also
- History of VenezuelaHistory of VenezuelaThis article discusses the history of Venezuela. See also the history of South America.-Pre-Columbian period:Archeologists have discovered evidence of the earliest known inhabitants of the Venezuelan area in the form of leaf-shaped flake tools, together with chopping and plano–convex scraping...
- Politics of VenezuelaPolitics of Venezuela|The politics of Venezuela occurs in a framework explained in Government of Venezuela.There are currently two major blocs of political parties in Venezuela: the incumbent leftist bloc United Socialist Party of Venezuela , its major allies Fatherland for All and the Communist Party of Venezuela ,...
- VenezuelaVenezuelaVenezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...