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List of heads of state of Paraguay facts for kids

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This article lists the leaders of Paraguay from its independence in 1811 until today. These leaders are often called "heads of state."

Paraguay's Leaders: A Quick Look

After Paraguay became independent from the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata in 1811, its first important leader was José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia. He was a unique thinker who led the country from 1814 until he passed away in 1840. During his time, Paraguay had very little contact with other countries.

The official role of President of the Republic started in 1844. From then until 1870, the López family ruled Paraguay like a family kingdom. After the Paraguayan War ended in 1870 and up to a big change in government in 1954, Paraguay had 44 presidents. It's interesting to note that 24 of them were removed from power by force.

Later, Alfredo Stroessner, an Army General, took control in 1954. He had the support of the military and the Colorado Party. Stroessner ruled for 35 years, which is one of the longest times any non-royal leader has been in charge. He was elected eight times in a row before being removed from power in 1989.

List of Officeholders

Symbols

Died in office

Non-presidential heads of state (1811–1844)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Title
Took office Left office Time in office
Bernardo de Velasco retrato.jpg
Dictador Francia por Alborno.jpg
Juan Valeriano Cevallos.jpg
Bernardo de Velasco
(1742–1821)

José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia
(1766–1840)

Juan Valeriano de Zevallos
16 May 1811 17 June 1811 32 days Governor Intendants
Fulgencio Yegros.jpg Fulgencio Yegros
(1780–1821)
17 June 1811 12 October 1813 2 years, 117 days President of the Superior Governing Junta
Dictador Francia por Alborno.jpg José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia
(1766–1840)
12 October 1813 12 February 1814 1 year, 123 days Consul of the Republic
Fulgencio Yegros.jpg Fulgencio Yegros
(1780–1821)
12 February 1814 12 June 1814 120 days Consul of the Republic
Dictador Francia por Alborno.jpg José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia
(1766–1840)
12 June 1814 3 October 1814 26 years, 100 days Consul of the Republic
3 October 1814 30 May 1816 Supreme Dictator
30 May 1816 20 September 1840 Perpetual Dictator
Manuel Antonio Ortiz.jpg Manuel Antonio Ortiz
(?–?)
20 September 1840 21 January 1841 32 days President of the Provisional Junta
Juan José Medina 2.jpg
Juan José Medina.jpg
Juan José Medina

José Gabriel Benítez

José Domingo Ocampos
21 January 1841 9 February 1841 19 days Triumvirate
Mariano Roque Alonso.jpg Mariano Roque Alonso
(1792–1853)
9 February 1841 12 March 1841 31 days General Commander of Arms
Carlos Antonio López retrato (cropped).jpg
Mariano Roque Alonso.jpg
Carlos Antonio López
(1792–1862)

Mariano Roque Alonso
(1792–1853)
12 March 1841 13 March 1844 3 years, 1 day Consuls of the Republic

Presidents (1844–present)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Elected Term of office Political party Vice president(s)
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Carlos Antonio López retrato (cropped).jpg Carlos Antonio López
(1792–1862)
13 March 1844 10 September 1862 18 years, 181 days Independent Mariano González

Vacant from 1846 to 1862


Francisco Solano López

2 Francisco Solano Lopez Carrillo.jpg Francisco Solano López
(1827–1870)
10 September 1862 1 March 1870
(Killed in action)
7 years, 172 days Independent Vacant from 1862 to 1865

Domingo Francisco Sánchez

3 Facundo Machaín.jpg Facundo Machaín
(1845–1877)
31 August 1870 1 September 1870 1 day Independent Vacant throughout
presidency
4 Cirilo Antonio Rivarola.jpg Cirilo Antonio Rivarola
(1832–1878)
1870 1 September 1870 18 December 1871 1 year, 93 days Independent Cayo Miltos

Salvador Jovellanos

5 Salvador Jovellanos.jpg Salvador Jovellanos
(1833–1881)
18 December 1871 25 November 1874 2 years, 342 days Independent Vacant throughout
presidency
6 Presidente Gill.jpg Juan Bautista Gill
(1840–1877)
1874 25 November 1874 12 April 1877 2 years, 138 days Independent Higinio Uriarte
7 Hignio vicepresidente.jpg Higinio Uriarte
(1843–1909)
12 April 1877 25 November 1878 1 year, 227 days Independent Vacant throughout
presidency
8 Cándido Bareiro.jpg Cándido Bareiro
(1834–1880)
1878 25 November 1878 4 September 1880 1 year, 284 days Independent Adolfo Saguier
9 Bernardino Caballero.jpg Bernardino Caballero
(1839–1912)

1882

4 September 1880 25 November 1886 6 years, 82 days Independent Vacant

Juan Antonio Jara

10 Patricio Escobar Cáceres (cropped).jpg Patricio Escobar
(1843–1912)
1886 25 November 1886 25 November 1890 4 years Independent
(until 1887)
José del Rosario Miranda
Colorado
11 Juan G González.jpg Juan Gualberto González
(1851–1912)
1890 25 November 1890 9 June 1894 3 years, 196 days Colorado Marcos Morínigo
12 Marcos Antonio Morinigo.jpg Marcos Morínigo
(1848–1901)
9 June 1894 25 November 1894 169 days Colorado Vacant throughout
presidency
13 Gral. Egusquiza (cropped).jpg Juan Bautista Egusquiza
(1845–1902)
1894 25 November 1894 25 November 1898 4 years Colorado Facundo Ynsfrán Caballero
14 Emilio Aceval Band (cropped).jpg Emilio Aceval
(1851–1931)
1898 25 November 1898 9 January 1902 3 years, 45 days Colorado Andrés Héctor Carvallo
15 Hector Carvallo.jpg Andrés Héctor Carvallo
(1862–1934)
9 January 1902 25 November 1902 320 days Colorado Vacant throughout
presidency
16 Presidente Escurra.jpg Juan Antonio Escurra
(1859–1929)
1902 25 November 1902 19 December 1904 2 years, 24 days Colorado Manuel Domínguez
17 Juan B Gaona (cropped)2.jpg Juan Bautista Gaona
(1845–1932)
19 December 1904 9 December 1905 355 days Liberal Vacant throughout
presidency
18 CECILIO BAEZ.jpg Cecilio Báez
(1862–1941)
9 December 1905 25 November 1906 351 days Liberal Vacant throughout
presidency
19 Dr. Benigno Ferreira (cropped).jpg Benigno Ferreira
(1846–1920)
1906 25 November 1906 4 July 1908 1 year, 222 days Liberal Emiliano González Navero
20 Emiliano González Navero (cropped).jpg Emiliano González Navero
(1861–1841)
4 July 1908 25 November 1910 2 years, 144 days Liberal Vacant throughout
presidency
21 Manuel Gondra (cropped).jpg Manuel Gondra
(1872–1927)
1910 25 November 1910 17 January 1911 53 days Liberal Juan Bautista Gaona
22 Presidente Albino Jara (cropped).jpg Albino Jara
(1877–1912)
17 January 1911 5 July 1911 169 days Liberal Vacant throughout
presidency
23 Liberato Rojas (cropped).jpg Liberato Marcial Rojas
(1870–1922)
5 July 1911 28 February 1912 238 days Liberal Vacant throughout
presidency
24 Pedro Pablo Peña (cropped).jpg Pedro Pablo Peña
(1864–1943)
28 February 1912 22 March 1912 23 days Colorado Vacant throughout
presidency
(20) Emiliano González Navero (cropped).jpg Emiliano González Navero
(1861–1841)
22 March 1912 15 August 1912 146 days Liberal Vacant throughout
presidency
25 Eduardo Schaerer by Harris & Ewing.jpg Eduardo Schaerer
(1873–1941)
1912 15 August 1912 15 August 1916 4 years Liberal Pedro Bobadilla
26 Manuel Franco (cropped).jpg Manuel Franco
(1871–1919)
1916 15 August 1916 5 June 1919 2 years, 294 days Liberal José Pedro Montero
27 José P. Montero Candia.jpg José Pedro Montero
(1878–1927)
5 June 1919 15 August 1920 1 year, 71 days Liberal Vacant throughout
presidency
(21) Gondra presidente (cropped).jpg Manuel Gondra
(1872–1927)
1920 15 August 1920 7 November 1921 1 year, 84 days Liberal Félix Paiva
28 Eusebio Ayala21 (cropped).jpg Eusebio Ayala
(1875–1942)
7 November 1921 12 April 1923 1 year, 156 days Liberal Vacant throughout
presidency
29 Eligio Ayala 1924 (cropped).jpg Eligio Ayala
(1878–1930)
12 April 1923 17 March 1924 340 days Liberal Vacant throughout
presidency
30 Luis Riart (cropped).jpg Luis Alberto Riart
(1880–1953)
17 March 1924 15 August 1924 151 days Liberal Vacant throughout
presidency
(29) Eligio Ayala 1924 (cropped).jpg Eligio Ayala
(1878–1930)
1924 15 August 1924 15 August 1928 4 years Liberal Manuel Burgos
31 José Patricio Guggiari (cropped).jpg José Patricio Guggiari
(1884–1957)
1928 15 August 1928 15 August 1932 4 years Liberal Emiliano González Navero
(28) Eusebio Ayala retrato (cropped).jpg Eusebio Ayala
(1875–1942)
1932 15 August 1932 17 February 1936 3 years, 186 days Liberal Raúl Casal Ribeiro
32 Rafael Franco (cropped).jpg Rafael Franco
(1896–1973)
17 February 1936 15 August 1937 1 year, 179 days Independent Vacant throughout
presidency
33 Expresidente Félix Paiva (cropped).jpg Félix Paiva
(1877–1965)
15 August 1937 15 August 1939 2 years Liberal Vacant throughout
presidency
34 Retrato del Mariscal Estigarribia (cropped) 2.jpg José Félix Estigarribia
(1888–1940)
1939 15 August 1939 7 September 1940 1 year, 23 days Liberal Luis Alberto Riart

Position abolished

Independent
(from 1940)
35 Morinigo py (cropped) 2.jpg Higinio Morínigo
(1897–1983)

1943

7 September 1940 3 June 1948 7 years, 270 days Independent Position abolished
36 Manuel Frutos.jpg Juan Manuel Frutos
(1879–1960)
3 June 1948 15 August 1948 73 days Colorado Position abolished
37 Juan natalicio gonzalez.jpg Juan Natalicio González
(1897–1966)
1948 15 August 1948 30 January 1949 168 days Colorado
(Guión Rojo)
Position abolished
38 Gral. Rolón (cropped).jpg Raimundo Rolón
(1903–1981)
30 January 1949 26 February 1949 27 days Colorado Position abolished
39 Felipe Molas López (cropped).jpg Felipe Molas López
(1901–1954)

1949

26 February 1949 11 September 1949 197 days Colorado Position abolished
40 Federico Chaves (cropped).jpg Federico Chaves
(1882–1978)

1950


1953

11 September 1949 4 May 1954 4 years, 235 days Colorado Position abolished
41 Arq. Tomás Romero Pereira (cropped).jpg Tomás Romero Pereira
(1886–1982)
4 May 1954 15 August 1954 103 days Colorado Position abolished
42 Alfredo Stroessner at desk (cropped) (cropped).jpg Alfredo Stroessner
(1912–2006)
1954

1958


1963


1968


1973


1978


1983


1988

15 August 1954 3 February 1989 34 years, 172 days Colorado Position abolished
43 Andres Rodriguez Portrait.jpg Andrés Rodríguez
(1923–1997)
1989 3 February 1989 15 August 1993 4 years, 193 days Colorado Position abolished
44 Medalha de Galiza 1995 - c1 (cropped)2.jpg Juan Carlos Wasmosy
(b. 1938)
1993 15 August 1993 15 August 1998 5 years Colorado Ángel Seifart
45 Cardoso cubas presidente do paraguai (cropped).jpg Raúl Cubas
(b. 1943)
1998 15 August 1998 28 March 1999 225 days Colorado Luis María Argaña
46 Luis Gonzalez Macchi (cropped).jpg Luis González Macchi
(b. 1947)
28 March 1999 15 August 2003 4 years, 140 days Colorado Vacant

Julio César Franco


Vacant

47 Nicanor Duarte Frutos (cropped).jpg Nicanor Duarte
(b. 1956)
2003 15 August 2003 15 August 2008 5 years Colorado Luis Castiglioni

Francisco Oviedo

48 Fernando Lugo Mendez (copyred).jpg Fernando Lugo
(b. 1951)
2008 15 August 2008 22 June 2012 3 years, 312 days Christian Democrat
(APC)
Federico Franco
49 Federico Franco asumiendo la presidencia (cropped).jpg Federico Franco
(b. 1962)
22 June 2012 15 August 2013 1 year, 54 days Liberal Oscar Denis
50 Horacio Cartes con banda.jpg Horacio Cartes
(b. 1956)
2013 15 August 2013 15 August 2018 5 years Colorado Juan Afara

Alicia Pucheta

51 Abdo Benítez con banda.jpg Mario Abdo
(b. 1971)
2018 15 August 2018 15 August 2023 5 years Colorado Hugo Velázquez
52 Santi Peña and William Lai (cropped)2.jpg Santiago Peña
(b. 1978)
2023 15 August 2023 Incumbent 2 years, 0 days Colorado Pedro Alliana

Timeline of Paraguay's Leaders

Santiago Peña Mario Abdo Benítez Horacio Cartes Federico Franco Fernando Lugo Nicanor Duarte Luis Ángel González Macchi Raúl Cubas Juan Carlos Wasmosy Andrés Rodríguez Alfredo Stroessner Tomás Romero Pereira Federico Chaves Felipe Molas López Raimundo Rolón Juan Natalicio González Juan Manuel Frutos Higinio Morínigo José Félix Estigarribia Rafael Franco José Patricio Guggiari Luis Alberto Riart Eligio Ayala Eusebio Ayala Félix Paiva José Pedro Montero Manuel Franco Eduardo Schaerer Pedro Pablo Peña Alfredo Aponte Mario Uscher Marcos Caballero Codas Liberato Marcial Rojas Albino Jara Manuel Gondra Emiliano González Navero Benigno Ferreira Cecilio Báez Juan Bautista Gaona Juan Antonio Escurra Andrés Héctor Carvallo Emilio Aceval Juan Bautista Egusquiza Marcos Morínigo Juan Gualberto González Patricio Escobar Bernardino Caballero Cándido Bareiro Higinio Uriarte Juan Bautista Gill Salvador Jovellanos Facundo Machaín José Díaz de Bedoya Carlos Loizaga Cirilo Antonio Rivarola Francisco Solano López Carlos Antonio López Mariano Roque Alonzo José Campos José Gabriel Benítez Juan José Medina Manuel Antonio Ortiz Fulgencio Yegros Juan Valeriano de Zevallos José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia Bernardo de Velasco

See also

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