Andrés Rodríguez (President)
| Andrés Rodríguez | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 47th President of Paraguay | |
|
In office February 3, 1989 – August 15, 1993 Provisional until 1 May 1989 |
|
| Preceded by | Alfredo Stroessner |
| Succeeded by | Juan Carlos Wasmosy |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
June 19, 1923 Borja, Departamento Guairá |
| Died | April 21, 1997 (aged 73) New York City |
| Nationality | Paraguayan |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | Paraguayan Army |
| Years of service | 1946–1993 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
Andrés Rodríguez Pedotti (June 19, 1923 – April 21, 1997) was the President of Paraguay from February 3, 1989 to August 15, 1993. He assumed the presidency in a coup d'état against Alfredo Stroessner.
Rodríguez had been Stroessner's closest confidant for 35 years. The two became so close that Rodríguez' daughter married Stroessner's elder son. However, relations between the two grew increasingly strained in the late 1980s. As the decade wore on, Rodríguez cultivated ties with the "traditionalists" in the long-dominant Colorado Party. This element of the party had supported Stroessner throughout his three-decade rule, but had come to favor a more humane way of governing. Matters came to a head in January 1989, when Stroessner relieved several generals of their commands and replaced them with men thought to be unquestionably loyal to him. Later that month, Stroessner closed all of the country's currency exchanges. This appeared to be a direct strike at Rodríguez, who ran one of the largest exchange houses in the nation. On February 2, Stroessner summoned his former ally and gave him an ultimatum—either accept appointment in the less important position of defense minister or retire.
Rodríguez gave his answer a few hours later by launching a violent coup. On the night of February 3, rebel troops and tanks surrounded the headquarters of the Presidential Guard in Asuncion (where Stroessner had sought refuge) with the backing of much of the Roman Catholic Church and of the United States, who no longer required Stroessner as an ally in the Cold War. With this support, the coup quickly succeeded, with Stroessner resigning only hours after hostilities began. However, some 500 soldiers on both sides are believed to have died as a consequence of Stroessner's capture. He was released and fled into exile a few days later, eventually taking refuge in Brazil. Over the course of the following week, the military was purged of Stroessner' loyalists, and the commanders of the 6 rebellious army divisions were promoted to replace them. Because Stroessner had resigned, Rodríguez, took the constitutionally mandated post of provisional president, dissolving the National Congress on February 9, and calling for new legislative elections in May, with the intent of cleaning out the Stroessner' militants. He also called for a presidential election on May 1. As per the Constitution of 1967, the newly-elected president would only serve out the remaining term of the previous president.
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