Gregorio Conrado Álvarez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gregorio Álvarez
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| President of Uruguay Appointed by the military junta |
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| In office September 1, 1981 – February 12, 1985 |
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| Preceded by | Aparicio Méndez |
| Succeeded by | Rafael Addiego |
| Commander-in-Chief of the Uruguayan National Army | |
| In office February 1, 1978 – February 1, 1979 |
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| Preceded by | Julio César Vadora |
| Succeeded by | Luis Vicente Queirolo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 November 1925 Lavalleja, Uruguay |
| Died | 28 December 2016 (aged 91) Montevideo, Uruguay |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse | María del Rosario Flores |
| Profession | Military |
Gregorio Conrado Álvarez Armelino (born November 26, 1925 – died December 28, 2016) was an Uruguayan Army general. He served as president of Uruguay from 1981 to 1985. He was the last president from the time when Uruguay was ruled by a military-backed government.
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Early Life and Military Career
Gregorio Álvarez was born in 1925 in a part of Uruguay that is now called Lavalleja. He joined the Uruguayan Military Academy in 1940. He became an officer in the cavalry in 1946. Later, in 1962, he became the chief of the Republican Guard in Montevideo.
In 1971, Álvarez was promoted to general. He was then put in charge of a special military group. This group worked to stop the Tupamaros, who were urban guerrillas.
When the military took control of the government in 1973, Álvarez became an important member of the new National Security Council. In 1978, he became the main leader of the army.
Becoming President of Uruguay
In 1980, the people of Uruguay voted to return to democracy. After this vote, the National Security Council chose Álvarez to be the temporary president. He started his term on September 1, 1981.
During his time as president, he continued to control labor unions. Because of this, he lost support from many people and even from most of the military.
Return to Democracy
Gregorio Álvarez agreed to hold new elections in November 1984. These elections would choose new lawmakers and a new president. Julio María Sanguinetti from the Colorado Party won the presidential election.
Álvarez resigned from his position on February 12, 1985. Rafael Addiego, who was the head of the Supreme Court, became interim president. He served until Sanguinetti officially took office on March 1.
It is interesting to note that Álvarez was the only one of the five leaders during the 1973-1985 military-backed government who was actually a military general. The other leaders were civilians.
Later Life and Arrest
After he left office, there was a law in 1986 that protected him from being charged for his actions during the military rule. However, when Tabaré Vázquez became president in 2004, people started asking for Álvarez to be investigated again. They wanted him to be held responsible for actions taken during the time the military was in power.
In July 2006, people protested outside Álvarez's home in Montevideo. They were protesting about people who went missing during the 1973–1985 government.
In December 2007, Álvarez was officially accused of serious actions during the time he was in power. On October 22, 2009, he was found guilty. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in these events. Gregorio Álvarez died in prison on December 28, 2016, when he was 91 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Gregorio Álvarez para niños
- Politics of Uruguay
- Vice President of Uruguay#Lack of inherent legal position
- Reynaldo Bignone, last surviving dictator of Argentina
