Juan Carlos Wasmosy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juan Carlos Wasmosy
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Wasmosy in 2023
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| 44th President of Paraguay | |
| In office August 15, 1993 – August 15, 1998 |
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| Vice President | Ángel Roberto Seifart |
| Preceded by | Andrés Rodríguez |
| Succeeded by | Raúl Cubas Grau |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 15, 1938 Asuncion, Paraguay |
| Political party | Colorado Party (1960–2000) |
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| Education | Universidad Nacional de Asunción |
| Profession | Civil Engineer |
Juan Carlos Wasmosy Monti (born December 15, 1938) is an engineer and politician from Paraguay. He served as the 44th President of Paraguay from 1993 to 1998.
Wasmosy's election was a major event in Paraguay's history. He was the country's first president to be chosen in a free election. He was also the first civilian (someone not in the military) to be president in 39 years.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Juan Carlos Wasmosy was born in Asunción, the capital of Paraguay. He studied to become a civil engineer. As an engineer, he became the leader of the Paraguayan team that helped build the famous Itaipu Dam, one of the largest hydroelectric dams in the world. This important job helped him become well-known in his country.
Before becoming president, he also worked in the government as the minister of integration for President Andrés Rodríguez.
Family Roots
Wasmosy has an interesting family history. His ancestors came to South America from Debrecen, Hungary, way back in 1828. Their last name was originally Vámosy, but it was changed to Wasmosy to sound more Spanish. In 1995, while he was president, he visited Hungary and saw the town where his family came from.
A Historic Presidency
The 1993 Election
In 1993, President Rodríguez supported Wasmosy to be the next president. Wasmosy won the election with nearly 42% of the vote. This election was very important because it was seen as the first truly free and fair election in Paraguay's long history.
International observers, including former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, watched the election to make sure it was fair. They said that even though there were some small problems, Wasmosy won by a clear margin. This was a big change for Paraguay, which had been ruled by a dictator named Alfredo Stroessner for 35 years. During Stroessner's rule, people who disagreed with the government were often not allowed to participate in politics.
Challenges in Office
As president, Wasmosy faced many challenges. He became unpopular with some people because he gave government jobs to supporters of the old dictator, Stroessner. He also had trouble passing the reforms he wanted to make.
In April 1996, the head of the Paraguayan army, Lino Oviedo, was accused of trying to take over the government in a coup. Wasmosy stopped the attempt and had Oviedo arrested. This event caused large protests in the capital city, as many citizens wanted to protect their new democracy.
Life After the Presidency
A new constitution written in 1992 prevented any president from being re-elected. This rule was made to stop anyone from holding power for too long, like Stroessner had. So, Wasmosy could not run for president again in 1998.
After his term ended, Wasmosy was given the title of "senator for life," an honor for former presidents in Paraguay. Later in his life, Wasmosy faced some legal troubles related to his time in government and was placed under house arrest for a time.
See also
In Spanish: Juan Carlos Wasmosy para niños
