Raúl Leoni

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Raúl Leoni
Raúl Leoni 1965.jpg
President of the Republic of Venezuela
In office
13 March 1964 – 11 March 1969
Preceded by Rómulo Betancourt
Succeeded by Rafael Caldera
Senator for life
In office
11 March 1969 – 5 July 1972
President of the National Congress of Venezuela
In office
1959–1962
Minister of Labor of Venezuela
In office
1945–1948
Personal details
Born Raúl Leoni Otero
(1905-04-26)26 April 1905
El Manteco, Bolívar State, Venezuela
Died Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.
New York City, New York, U.S.
Political party Acción Democrática
Spouse(s) Carmen América Fernández Alcalá (Menca de Leoni)
Religion Roman Catholic
Signature Raúl Leoni's signature

Raúl Leoni Otero (26 April 1905 – 5 July 1972) was President of Venezuela from 1964 until 1969. He was a member of the Generation of 1928 and a charter member of the Acción Democrática party, and the first Labor minister of Venezuela (during El Trienio Adeco, 1945–48).

Background

Leoni was born in El Manteco, Bolívar State, son of a mason born in Corsica. He graduated at the Central University of Venezuela in Caracas as a lawyer. He was a member of the Generation of 1928, and the first Labor minister of Venezuela (during El Trienio Adeco, 1945–48).

Presidency

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File:Raúl Leoni and Doña Menca.jpg
Monument to Leoni and his wife Menca, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela

Leoni took control of the presidency on 13 March 1964, succeeding Rómulo Betancourt; both were members of the Acción Democrática.

One of the pillars of a political consolidation in Venezuela, the Pacto de Punto Fijo, was underestimated by Leoni, since in his opinion it reduced the "coherence and organization of the regime". Strictly, the pact mandated that the composition of the executive cabinet be limited to representatives of three of the more important political parties: Acción Democrática (AD), COPEI and Unión Republicana Democrática (URD). Leoni initially formed a cabinet with a few members of his party and a good number of independents. Later, in November 1964, Leoni initiated conversations with leaders of the involved parties to rescue the spirit of the pact. A new cabinet was formed, but it lasted for only 16 months.

During his government, Leoni carried out important structural projects in Venezuela, specifically the development of heavy industry in Guayana (hydroelectric, iron and steel), inauguration of the Bank of the Workers, and construction of road infrastructure (highways, freeways, and bridges – the most important of which crossed the Orinoco). Important changes to labor and social programs also occurred; unions gained force and the Social Security law was modified. Leoni made an attempt at reforming tax structure, but was restrained by a coalition of left and right that openly served the interests of oil companies.

In 1967 the Invasion of Machurucuto happened during the presidency where 12 guerrillas attempted to help Venezuelan guerrillas in the Venezuelan Andes.

Also, in this same period Leoni signed the Cartagena Agreement (precursor to the Andean Community trade bloc) in Bogotá between Venezuela, Chile, Colombia, Perú and Ecuador.

During Leoni's presidency the conflict with the leftist guerrilla movement Armed Forces for National Liberation (FALN) intensified. In 1967 he suspended constitutional guarantees.

On 11 March 1969, Leoni transferred power to Rafael Caldera, member of the Christian Democratic Party COPEI and signatory of the Pacto de Punto Fijo. This transfer definitively instituted the alternation of power between the important parties through the end of the 20th century in Venezuela.

Raúl Leoni's cabinet

Ministries [1]
OFFICE NAME TERM
President Raúl Leoni 1964–1969
Home Affairs Gonzalo Barrios 1964–1966
  Reinaldo Leandro Mora 1966–1969
Outer Relations Ignacio Iribarren Borges 1964–1969
Finance Andrés Germán Otero 1964–1965
  Eddy Morales Crespo 1965–1967
  Benito Raúl Losada 1967–1968
  Francisco Mendoza 1968–1969
Defense Ramón Florencio Gómez 1964–1969
Development Manuel Egaña 1964
  Luis Hernández Solís 1964–1968
  Ana María Casanova 1968–1969
Public Works Leopoldo Sucre Figarella 1964–1969
Education José Manuel Siso Martínez 1964–1969
Labor Eloy Lares Martínez 1964
  Hens Silva Torres 1964–1967
  Simón Antoni Paván 1967–1968
  Raúl Valera 1968–1969
Communications Lorenzo Azpúrua Marturet 1964
  J. J. González Gorrondona 1964–1966
  Héctor Santaella 1966–1967
  Juan Manuel Domínguez Chacín 1967–1968
  Lorenzo Azpúrua Marturet 1968–1969
Agriculture Alejandro Osorio 1964
  Juan José Palacios 1964–1965
  Pedro Segnini La Cruz 1965–1966
  Alejandro Osorio 1966–1969
Health and Social Assistance Alfredo Arreaza Guzmán 1964
  Domingo Guzmán Lander 1964–1967
  Alfonso Araujo Belloso 1967–1968
  Armando Soto Rivera 1968–1969
Justice Miguel Ángel Burelli Rivas 1964
  Ramón Escovar Salom 1964–1966
  José S. Núñez Aristimuño 1966–1969
Mines and Hydrocarbons Manuel Pérez Guerrero 1964–1967
  José Antonio Mayobre 1967–1969
Secretary of Presidency Manuel Mantilla 1964–1969

Death

Leoni died on 5 July 1972 when he was 67 years old, at the Cornell Medical Center in New York City, where he was recovering from medical treatment after suffering a hemorrhage.

See also

References

  1. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Venezuela (1965). Oficina de Información, Prensa y Publicaciones. "El Presidente y su Gabinete."
Political offices
Preceded by President of Venezuela
1964–1969
Succeeded by
Rafael Caldera
Party political offices
Preceded by AD presidential candidate
1963 (won)
Succeeded by
Gonzalo Barrios (1968)