Marcos Pérez Jiménez

See also: Jiménez

Marcos Pérez Jiménez (April 25th 1914 - September 20th 2001) was president of Venezuela of 1952 with 1958.

It was born in Michalena, in the State de Táchira. His/her father was farmer and his mother teacher. Pérez Jiménez attended the school in its birthplace and in Colombia; it entered then to the Military academy of Venezuela and obtained its diploma while being first of its promotion in 1934; then it was to study in military colleges with the Peru.

In 1945, it took part in a coup d'etat which contributed to install the democratic government of Rómulo Gallegos (of the Democratic party Action) and became Ministre for Defense. Later in 1948, it carried out another coup d'etat which drove out Gallegos. Of 1948 with 1952, the country was controlled by a military junta carried out by the lieutenant colonel Carlos Delgado Chalbaud, and who included/understood Pérez Jiménez and Germán Suárez Flamerich. The November 13rd 1950, Delgado Chalbaud was assassinated. The junta elected Suárez Flamerich at the provisional position of president, but the real capacity was held by Pérez Jiménez.

The junta called with the ballot boxes in 1952. When the first results showed that the leader of the opposition was at the head and could gain, the junta stopped the elections and named Pérez Jiménez chair.

Pérez Jiménez changed the name of the country, which was " The United States of Venezuela" since 1864, in " Republic of Venezuela". This name will remain until the current president Hugo Chávez modifies it in " Bolivarienne republic of Venezuela")

During its government, Pérez Jiménez began much from projects of infrastructure, for the majority of the contructions of roads, bridges, buildings of the government, large complex of public housing and very the symbolic system Hôtel Humboldt. The economy of Venezuela developed quickly during its mandate.

As much of dictators, Pérez Jiménez was not ready to tolerate criticisms and its government continued pitilessly and destroys the opposition.

While Pérez Jiménez was president of Venezuela, the government of the the United States decreed the to him American Légion of the Merit.

In December 1957, the government organized a plebiscite that Pérez Jiménez gained with a comfortable advance. Little of anybody gave faith to the official results.

In January 1958, there was a general rising and following demonstrations in the street, Pérez left the country. It went to the United States where it lived until in 1963, moment when it was extradié towards Venezuela on charges of diversion of a few 200 million dollars during its presidential mandate. It was sent in prison until 1968, where it is released. It was in exile in Spain. In 1968 it was elected senator but its election was rejected on a question of procedure.

Pérez Jiménez had four girls of his wife and a girl with Marita Lorenz. He died in Alcobendas, Madrid (Spain) at 87 years.

See too

History of Political Venezuela
of Venezuela
Venezuela

Source

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