Hernán Siles Zuazo facts for kids
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Hernán Siles Zuazo
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| 46th President of Bolivia | |
| In office 10 October 1982 – 6 August 1985 |
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| Vice President | Jaime Paz Zamora (1982–1984) |
| Preceded by | Guido Vildoso |
| Succeeded by | Víctor Paz Estenssoro |
| In office 6 August 1956 – 6 August 1960 |
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| Vice President | Ñuflo Chávez Ortiz (1956–1957) |
| Preceded by | Víctor Paz Estenssoro |
| Succeeded by | Víctor Paz Estenssoro |
| In office 11 April 1952 – 15 April 1952 Interim |
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| Vice President | Vacant |
| Preceded by | Hugo Ballivián |
| Succeeded by | Víctor Paz Estenssoro |
| 27th Vice President of Bolivia | |
| In office 15 April 1952 – 6 August 1956 |
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| President | Víctor Paz Estenssoro |
| Preceded by | Mamerto Urriolagoitía |
| Succeeded by | Ñuflo Chávez Ortiz |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Hernán Siles Zuazo
21 March 1914 La Paz, Bolivia |
| Died | 6 August 1996 (aged 82) Montevideo, Uruguay |
| Resting place | La Paz, Bolivia |
| Political party | Leftwing Revolutionary Nationalist Movement (1971–1985) Revolutionary Nationalist Movement (1942–1971) |
| Other political affiliations |
Democratic and Popular Union (political alliance) |
| Spouse | María Teresa Ormachea |
| Children | 3 |
| Parents | Hernando Siles Reyes Isabel Zuazo Cusicanqui |
| Relatives | Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas (half-brother) Jorge Siles Salinas (half-brother) |
| Education | Higher University of San Andrés |
| Awards |  Order of the Condor of the Andes Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Order of Isabella the Catholic |
| Signature | .svg) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Bolivia |
| Branch/service |  Bolivian Army |
| Years of service | 1932–1935 |
| Unit | 34th Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | Chaco War |
Hernán Siles Zuazo (born March 21, 1914 – died August 6, 1996) was an important Bolivian politician. He served as the 46th president of Bolivia two times. His first term was from 1956 to 1960, and his second was from 1982 to 1985.
He also briefly served as an interim (temporary) president in April 1952. Before becoming president, he was the 27th vice president of Bolivia from 1952 to 1956.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Hernán Siles was the son of Hernando Siles Reyes, who was a president of Bolivia. His mother was Isabel Zuazo Cusicanqui. Hernán was raised by his mother. His half-brother, Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas, also became president for a short time in 1969.
In 1931, Siles finished his studies at the American Institute in La Paz. He joined the Bolivian army and fought in the Chaco War (1932–1935). He was honored for an injury he received during the war. After the war, he earned a law degree from San Andres University.
Siles married Maria Teresa Ormachea del Carpio. They had three daughters named Marcela, Ana Maria, and Isabel.
Starting the MNR and the 1952 Revolution
In 1940, Siles was elected to the Chamber of Deputies, which is like a parliament. He was interested in political changes. In 1941, he helped create an important political group called the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement (MNR). He founded it with Víctor Paz Estenssoro and others.
The MNR supported a military government led by Gualberto Villarroel (1943–1946). But this government was forced out of power. After Villarroel was overthrown in 1946, Siles had to leave Bolivia and went to Argentina. There, he worked as a reporter for Associated Press.
In the 1951 elections, Paz Estenssoro ran for president with Siles as his vice-presidential partner. They won the election. However, the government at the time did not accept the results. Instead, the presidency was given to General Hugo Ballivián.
The MNR party then started working secretly. From April 9 to 11, 1952, they led the important Bolivian National Revolution. Some parts of the army joined the rebels. Siles played a big part in this uprising. Paz Estenssoro, the MNR leader, was in Argentina at the time.
Serving as Vice President (1952–1956)
After defeating the military government, Siles became the temporary president from April 11 to April 16, 1952. Then, Paz Estenssoro came back from Argentina. The results of the 1951 election were finally accepted. Paz Estenssoro became the official president of Bolivia, and Siles became his vice-president.
During the MNR's first four years in power, they made big changes. They allowed everyone to vote, no matter their wealth or education. They also took control of the country's largest mining companies. Another major change was a new law about land ownership.
In 1956, Paz Estenssoro finished his term. The Bolivian Constitution did not allow a president to run for a second term right away. So, Siles was the clear choice to run next. He easily won the elections of 1956 and became President on August 6, 1956.
First Time as President (1956–1960)
Siles's first time as president was more challenging than Paz Estenssoro's term. During this period, the MNR party started to split. Members disagreed on policies and had personal differences.
Bolivia's economy faced serious problems. Food and mineral production went down, and prices for goods went up very quickly (inflation). The United States offered help, but only if Bolivia followed an economic plan. Siles accepted this help, which meant cutting government spending and social programs.
Siles also had to deal with disarming the workers and miners. These groups had fought in the 1952 Revolution and were allowed to keep their weapons. They had helped protect the revolution from military takeovers. But now, their leader, Juan Lechín, was becoming very powerful.
Leaving the MNR and Time in Exile (1960–1978)
After Siles's term ended in 1960, Paz Estenssoro ran for president again in the 1960 elections. He won and sent Siles to be an ambassador. Siles served as ambassador to Uruguay until 1963 and then to Spain from 1963 to 1964.
In 1964, Siles disagreed with Paz Estenssoro. Paz Estenssoro decided to run for president for another term, which Siles opposed. This caused Siles to break away from the MNR party.
Siles first supported a military takeover in November 1964. This was led by Vice-President General René Barrientos and army chief Alfredo Ovando. But Siles was later forced to leave the country. It became clear that the military planned to stay in power by changing election results. Except for a five-month period when his half-brother was president, the military ruled Bolivia until 1982.
In 1971, Siles opposed a right-wing military takeover led by General Hugo Banzer. This caused a final split with Paz Estenssoro, who supported the takeover. In 1971, Siles formed a new party called the Leftwing Revolutionary Nationalist Movement (MNRI). This showed his move towards more left-wing ideas.
Attempts to Restore Democracy (1978–1982)
After Bolivia started to become more democratic in 1978, Siles returned. He formed a large alliance of left-wing parties. This alliance included the Revolutionary Left Movement and the Communist Party. They created the Democratic and Popular Union (UDP). This group won the general elections in 1978, 1979, and 1980. This happened because many people no longer supported Paz Estenssoro.
The 1978 election was canceled because of widespread cheating. Even though polls showed Siles would have won fairly, the election was not honest. The 1979 election did not have a clear winner, so Congress chose Wálter Guevara as a temporary president.
Siles came in first place in 1980, but he did not get enough votes to win outright. Days before Congress was going to choose the winner, the army launched a harsh military takeover on July 17, 1980. This brought a strict military government led by General Luis García Meza. Siles escaped to Peru by boat across Lake Titicaca. He returned to Bolivia in 1982. By then, the military government was failing, and Bolivia's economy was about to collapse.
Second Time as President (1982–1985)
The military's reputation was badly damaged by the harsh rule from 1980 to 1982. They had two choices: hold new elections or accept the 1980 results. It was clear that the country might fall into civil war if new elections were held. So, in September 1982, the military announced they would bring back the parliament elected in 1980. They would accept whoever that parliament chose as president.
Congress met again on September 23 and confirmed the 1980 election results. On October 5, they voted overwhelmingly for Siles to be president. He began his second term on October 10. Jaime Paz Zamora became his vice-president.
In 1983, Siles Zuazo restarted relations with Cuba. These relations had ended twenty years earlier. Cuban doctors then began to help reorganize Bolivia's health system.
On June 30, 1984, Siles was kidnapped from his home. He was held for ten hours during a failed military takeover attempt. About 60 members of the army and police tried to overthrow the government.
The economy was in a very bad state, with prices rising extremely fast (hyperinflation). Siles found it very hard to control the situation. He received little support from other political parties or members of Congress. Many politicians wanted to show their power after years of military rule. Unions, led by Juan Lechín, stopped the government with constant strikes. Even Vice-President Jaime Paz left Siles when his popularity dropped very low.
The hyperinflation from 1982 to 1986 was one of the worst ever recorded in the world. Still, Siles refused to take any actions that were against the constitution. He wanted to make sure Bolivia's democracy, which had been so hard to win, would last. He even went on a hunger strike to try and gain public support. Finally, he agreed to end his term early. Congress then moved the presidential election forward by a year.
One positive event during Siles's time as president was in 1983. He arranged for Klaus Barbie, a Nazi war criminal, to be sent to France. Barbie was known as the "Butcher of Lyon." He had been living in Bolivia since the late 1950s or early 1960s. He had been helped to escape Europe by the United States. Barbie was often used by the military governments from 1964 to 1982 to question people. After being sent to France, he was found guilty of his crimes and died in a French prison.
Later Life
In 1985, Congress called for early elections. Siles's old political rival, Víctor Paz Estenssoro of the MNR, was elected president. Siles then moved to Uruguay. He had lived there before when he was in exile and had a special liking for the country. He passed away in Montevideo, Uruguay, in August 1996, at 82 years old.
See also
- UMOPAR
- First Cabinet of Hernán Siles Zuazo
- Second Cabinet of Hernán Siles Zuazo
