Violeta Chamorro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Violeta Chamorro de Barrios
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Chamorro in 1993
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| 55th President of Nicaragua | |
| In office 25 April 1990 – 10 January 1997 |
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| Vice President |
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| Preceded by | Daniel Ortega |
| Succeeded by | Arnoldo Alemán |
| Member of the Junta of National Reconstruction | |
| In office 17 July 1979 – 19 April 1980 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Violeta Barrios Torres
18 October 1929 Rivas, Nicaragua |
| Died | 14 June 2025 (aged 95) San José, Costa Rica |
| Political party | Democratic Union of Liberation |
| Other political affiliations |
National Opposition Union |
| Spouse |
Pedro Joaquín Chamorro Cardenal
(m. 1950; died 1978) |
| Children | 5 |
Violeta Barrios Torres de Chamorro (born October 18, 1929) was a Nicaraguan politician. She served as the 55th President of Nicaragua from 1990 to 1997. She was the first woman ever elected president in her country and in the Americas.
Violeta was born into a wealthy family in Rivas, Nicaragua. She spent some of her school years in the United States. Her husband, Pedro Joaquín Chamorro Cardenal, was a journalist. He used his family's newspaper, La Prensa, to speak out against the government. Because of this, he was often jailed or forced to leave the country.
When her husband was killed in 1978, Chamorro took over the newspaper. His death helped start the Nicaraguan Revolution. Chamorro became a strong symbol for those who wanted change. At first, she supported the Sandinistas, who overthrew the government. She even joined the temporary government they formed. However, she resigned in 1980. She felt the new government was becoming too extreme.
Chamorro returned to La Prensa. She continued to criticize the government. In 1990, new elections were held. She was chosen to run for president against the Sandinista leader, Daniel Ortega. She represented a group of 14 different political parties. Most people thought she would lose, but Chamorro won the election.
Her six years as president were challenging. The country faced big money problems and social unrest. However, she successfully brought peace to Nicaragua. She ended a long civil war. She also made the economy more stable. She re-established relationships with international banks. After her time as president, Chamorro worked on international peace projects. She retired later due to poor health.
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Early Life and Education
Violeta Barrios Torres was born on October 18, 1929. She was born in Rivas, a city near Nicaragua's border with Costa Rica. Her family was wealthy. They owned large amounts of land and cattle.
She went to primary school in Rivas and Granada. For high school, her parents wanted her to learn English. So, they sent her to boarding schools in the United States. She attended schools in Texas and Virginia. In 1947, she returned to Nicaragua. Her father became very ill, and she did not finish school in the U.S.
Family and Personal Life
In 1949, Violeta met Pedro Joaquín Chamorro Cardenal. They married a year later. They had five children together. In 1952, her husband inherited his family's newspaper, La Prensa. He used it to criticize the Somoza family. The Somoza family ruled Nicaragua at that time.
Because of his political views, Pedro was often put in jail. In 1957, he was sent away to Costa Rica. Violeta and the children joined him there. For many years, her life was about visiting her husband in jail or following him into exile.
After her husband was killed in 1978, Violeta took control of the newspaper. Over the years, her own family became divided by politics. Two of her children, Pedro and Cristiana, worked at La Prensa. Her other two children, Claudia and Carlos, strongly supported the Sandinistas. This was the group her husband had opposed. Despite their different political views, Violeta always had family dinners. She insisted that politics were not discussed at the table.
How Violeta Chamorro Became a Political Leader
The killing of Violeta's husband helped start the Sandinista Revolution. When the Sandinistas took power in 1979, Chamorro was with them. She became part of a five-member group. This group was called the Junta of National Reconstruction. It was created to govern the country.
This new government promised free elections, a free press, and a strong economy. However, the Sandinistas soon began to take control of TV and radio stations. They also censored newspapers. They formed close ties with the Soviet Union.
In April 1980, Chamorro resigned from the government. She disagreed with the Sandinistas' new direction. She felt they failed to create a true democracy. She went back to running La Prensa. She used it to criticize the new government and support freedom of speech.
The 1990 Presidential Election
In 1989, President Daniel Ortega agreed to hold free elections. A group of 14 opposition parties chose Chamorro as their presidential candidate. This group was called the National Opposition Union (UNO).
Her main promises were to end the country's long civil war. She also promised to stop forcing young men to join the army. She presented herself as a motherly figure. She said she could bring peace and healing to the nation.
Most experts thought Chamorro would lose. The Sandinista government was powerful. Ortega ran a very flashy campaign. However, the people of Nicaragua were tired of war and money problems. On February 25, 1990, Chamorro won the election. She received nearly 55% of the vote. She became the first woman elected as a head of state in the Americas.
Violeta Chamorro's Presidency (1990–1997)
Violeta Chamorro was sworn into office on April 25, 1990. It was the first time in over 50 years that power had been transferred peacefully from one government to another in Nicaragua.
Bringing Peace to Nicaragua
Chamorro's greatest success was ending the civil war. Her first act as president was to end the military draft. She then cut the size of the army in half. She also worked to disarm the Contras. These were the rebel groups that had been fighting the Sandinistas.
To help remove weapons from the country, she started a program. It bought guns from citizens. The collected weapons were covered in concrete. They were placed in a new "Peace Square" in the capital city of Managua. This was a powerful symbol of her wish for a peaceful future.
Disarming the country was not easy. Many former soldiers were left without jobs. To solve this, Chamorro gave them land. She also integrated some of them into the police force.
Balancing Political Divisions
Chamorro had to lead a country that was deeply divided. To promote unity, she made some surprising decisions. She asked Humberto Ortega, the brother of her rival Daniel Ortega, to remain as the head of the army.
Some of her supporters criticized this move. But it showed she was willing to compromise. She did this for the good of the nation. She also appointed some Sandinista members to her cabinet. This helped to create a more stable government. It also helped prevent further conflict.
Economic Challenges
Chamorro took over a country with a collapsed economy. Inflation was out of control. This meant money was losing its value very quickly. Her government introduced a new currency. They also cut government spending to fight inflation.
These policies were tough. Many people lost their jobs. This happened as state-owned companies were sold to private owners. Prices for basic goods went up. However, her government successfully renegotiated Nicaragua's massive foreign debt. This helped stabilize the economy. It also stopped hyperinflation.
Relationship with the United States
When Chamorro was elected, U.S. President George H. W. Bush ended the economic embargo against Nicaragua. He also promised aid. The U.S. helped Nicaragua pay off its debts to major international banks.
However, U.S. interest in Nicaragua faded. This happened once the Sandinistas were no longer in power. In 1992, U.S. Senator Jesse Helms blocked aid to Nicaragua. He claimed that Sandinistas still had too much control in the government. This created more economic problems for Chamorro's government.
After Her Presidency and Her Legacy
Chamorro did not run for re-election in 1997. The constitution did not allow it. After leaving office, she created the Violeta Barrios de Chamorro Foundation. This foundation continued to work for peace and development in Nicaragua.
She also became a member of international groups. These groups promote peace and cooperation in the Americas. One example is the Carter Center.
In her later years, Chamorro suffered from poor health. This included a brain tumor. It forced her to retire from public life. She died on June 14, 2025, in San José, Costa Rica.
Violeta Chamorro is remembered as a leader. She brought peace to a country torn by war. Her ability to compromise and unite people from different political sides helped Nicaragua move toward democracy and stability.
Awards
- Isaiah Thomas Award in Publishing from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
- 1986 – Louis M. Lyons Award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism.
- 1991 – Democracy Award from the National Endowment for Democracy.
- 1997 – Path to Peace Award from the Path to Peace Foundation.
- 2001 – Award for Leadership in Global Trade.
Images for kids
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A cement-covered tank in Chamorro's Peace Park (Parque de Paz). It symbolizes the wish that Nicaragua would "never again" suffer from such violence.
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A plaque in the Peace Park thanking U.S. President George H. W. Bush for his help in re-establishing democracy in Nicaragua.
See also
In Spanish: Violeta Chamorro para niños
