Wolfgang Larrazábal
Encyclopedia
Wolfgang Enrique Larrazábal Ugueto (5 March 1911 – 27 February 2003), commander of the Venezuelan Navy, became President of Venezuela following the overthrow of Marcos Pérez Jiménez
on 23 January 1958.
Larrazábal was born in Carúpano
, Sucre state
, son of Fabio Larrazábal and Jerónima Ugueto. Attended college at the Pestalozzi Institute of Maracaibo
. From 1928 to 1932 study at the Naval school of Venezuela. Between 1942 and 1945, Larrazábal was captain
of the Venezuelan Navy's ships: General Urdaneta, Leandro and Soublette, later becoming commander of the Naval Base of Puerto Cabello
. In July 1947 was named commander of the Military of Venezuela
, and, in 1949, naval attaché of the Venezuelan embassy in Washington, DC. Larrazábal also served as director of the National Institute of Sports (1952–1955), director of the Armed Forces Circle (1957–1958), and in early 1958, commander of the Venezuelan Navy.
After the overthrow of dictator Marcos Pérez Jiménez
, Larrazábal was appointed as interim president of the Government Junta on 23 January 1958. His term was characterized by an Emergency Plan, designed to ameliorate adverse economic conditions during the return to democracy. Fairly popular, resigned later that year in order to run in the 1958 presidential elections
for Unión Republicana Democrática (Edgar Sanabria
was appointed as provisional president). Larrazábal obtained 903,479 votes, finishing second to AD's Rómulo Betancourt
.
Wolfgang Larrazábal served as ambassador of Venezuela in Chile
(1959–1969). Ran again for president along with the parties Frente Democrático (FDP) and Movimiento Electoral Nacional Independiente (MENI), in the 1963 elections, in which obtained only 9.43% of votes. He later served several terms in the Venezuelan parliament
.
During his last years, he was opposed to Hugo Chavez
´s policies. He died in Caracas at the age of 91 on 27 February 2003.
Marcos Pérez Jiménez
Marcos Evangelista Pérez Jiménez was a soldier and Presidents of Venezuela from 1952 to 1958.-Career:Marcos Evangelista Pérez Jiménez was born in Michelena, Táchira State. His father, Juan Pérez Bustamante, was a farmer; his mother, Adela Jiménez, a schoolteacher...
on 23 January 1958.
Larrazábal was born in Carúpano
Carúpano
Carúpano is a city in the eastern Venezuelan state of Sucre. It is located on the Venezuelan Caribbean coast at the opening of two valleys, some 120 km east of the capital of Sucre, Cumaná...
, Sucre state
Sucre (state)
Sucre State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is Cumaná. Sucre State covers a total surface area of 11,800 km² and, in 2007, had an estimated population of 916,600.-Municipalities and municipal seats:...
, son of Fabio Larrazábal and Jerónima Ugueto. Attended college at the Pestalozzi Institute of Maracaibo
Maracaibo
Maracaibo is a city and municipality located in northwestern Venezuela off the western coast of the Lake Maracaibo. It is the second-largest city in the country after the national capital Caracas and the capital of Zulia state...
. From 1928 to 1932 study at the Naval school of Venezuela. Between 1942 and 1945, Larrazábal was captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
of the Venezuelan Navy's ships: General Urdaneta, Leandro and Soublette, later becoming commander of the Naval Base of Puerto Cabello
Puerto Cabello
Puerto Cabello is a city on the north coast of Venezuela. It is located in Carabobo State about 75 km west of Caracas. As of 2001, the city has a population of around 154,000 people. The city is the home to the largest port in the country and is thus a vital cog in the country's vast oil...
. In July 1947 was named commander of the Military of Venezuela
Military of Venezuela
The National Armed Forces of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela are the overall unified military forces of Venezuela. It includes over 129,150 men and women, under Article 328 of the Constitution, in 5 components of Ground, Sea and Air...
, and, in 1949, naval attaché of the Venezuelan embassy in Washington, DC. Larrazábal also served as director of the National Institute of Sports (1952–1955), director of the Armed Forces Circle (1957–1958), and in early 1958, commander of the Venezuelan Navy.
After the overthrow of dictator Marcos Pérez Jiménez
Marcos Pérez Jiménez
Marcos Evangelista Pérez Jiménez was a soldier and Presidents of Venezuela from 1952 to 1958.-Career:Marcos Evangelista Pérez Jiménez was born in Michelena, Táchira State. His father, Juan Pérez Bustamante, was a farmer; his mother, Adela Jiménez, a schoolteacher...
, Larrazábal was appointed as interim president of the Government Junta on 23 January 1958. His term was characterized by an Emergency Plan, designed to ameliorate adverse economic conditions during the return to democracy. Fairly popular, resigned later that year in order to run in the 1958 presidential elections
Venezuelan presidential election, 1958
General elections were held in Venezuela on 7 December 1958. The presidential elections were won by Rómulo Betancourt of Democratic Action, who received 49.2% of the vote, whilst his party won 73 of the 132 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 32 of the 51 seats in the Senate...
for Unión Republicana Democrática (Edgar Sanabria
Edgar Sanabria
Edgar Sanabria Arcia was a Venezuelan lawyer, diplomat, and politician, member of the provisional Government Junta, after the overthrow of Marcos Pérez Jiménez on 23 January 1958, and interim President of Venezuela in 1959....
was appointed as provisional president). Larrazábal obtained 903,479 votes, finishing second to AD's 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...
.
Wolfgang Larrazábal served as ambassador of Venezuela in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
(1959–1969). Ran again for president along with the parties Frente Democrático (FDP) and Movimiento Electoral Nacional Independiente (MENI), in the 1963 elections, in which obtained only 9.43% of votes. He later served several terms in the Venezuelan parliament
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...
.
During his last years, he was opposed to Hugo Chavez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
´s policies. He died in Caracas at the age of 91 on 27 February 2003.