Gualberto Villarroel López

Gualberto Villarroel López (born December 15, 1908 in Villa Rivero , Departamento Cochabamba , † July 21, 1946 in La Paz ) was the 49th President of Bolivia . His term of office lasted from December 20, 1943 to July 21, 1946.

Live and act

Villarroel was born in a country house in Villa Rivero, Cochabamba. In 1925 he entered the military . He took part in the Chaco War (1932-1935) against Paraguay . In December 1943 he was involved in a coup d'état against President Enrique Peñaranda del Castillo . After taking power on December 20, 1943, Villarroel was first president of the government junta until April 5, 1944, and later provisional president until August 6, 1944. He then officially took over the office of President of Bolivia. Far-reaching reforms took place during his tenure, such as the official recognition of trade unions .

On July 21, 1946, anti-government masses headed for Plaza Murillo , where the Palacio Quemado , the seat of government, is, and besieged it. Inside the palace, Villarroel announced his abdication. But the masses stormed the building and Villarroel was murdered. His body was thrown from a balcony and hung from a lamp post opposite the palace.

After this coup d'état, Villarroel's conservative opponents regained control of the government and held it until April 9, 1952, when the revolution began. Villarroel ("EL Presidente Colgado") has since been viewed as a martyr and hero by the majority of the Bolivian population.

Others

In the department of La Paz , the province of Gualberto Villarroel is named after Gualberto Villarroel López.

See also

• List of presidents of Bolivia
• List of United States military operations

literature

• Augusto Céspedes : El Presidente Colgado .
• José de Mesa, Teresa Gisbert and Carlos D. Mesa: Historia de Bolivia , 3rd edition; Pp. 572-577.

predecessor	Office	successor
Enrique Peñaranda del Castillo	President of Bolivia 1943–1946	Néstor Guillén