Bautista Saavedra
Encyclopedia
Rosa Bautista Saavedra Mallea (1870 – 1939) was President of Bolivia
, first as part of a governing junta between 1920–21, and then as constitutionally-elected President of the Republic between 1921 and 1925.
As leader of the insurgent Republican Party, he instigated and led the coup d'état
of 1920 against the long-ruling Liberal Party of President José Gutiérrez Guerra. He had a turbulent term, as his party fragmented almost immediately after the coup, with a large fraction of it going on to form the Partido Republicano-Genuino (Genuine Republican party). Essentially, the split was due to opposition to the largely personalist, centralized, and caudillo
-like governing style of Saavedra. He quickly expelled from the country most top-leaders of the Genuino party, and often made use of extra-constitutional means to remain in power.
Unable to run for re-election in 1925, Saavedra did the next best thing and made sure a hand-picked successor would follow him, presumably one firmly under his thumb. His first choice, Gabino Villanueva, failed to be sufficiently pliable for the President's liking, and Saavedra annulled the 1925 elections on a technicality. Nationwide protests at this transparent effort to manipulate the elections and prolong Saavedra's stay in office forced the President to resign, leaving in his place Felipe Segundo Guzmán
, the President of the Senate. The latter, clearly a "Saavedra's man," called elections for 1926.
Saavedra thus renewed his quest to find the ideal proxy candidate through which to rule. He found the perfect man in Hernando Siles
, who ran in the elections along with Bautista Saavedra's own brother, Abdón Saavedra
, as his Vice-Presidential running mate. This allowed the meddling former President to continue to run the strings of the Bolivian government—or so he thought, for President Siles eventually tired of Saavedra's heavy-handed meddling and exiled him along with his brother (his own Vice-President).
Saavedra remained an influential political leader after that, but never returned to power, especially since his arch-rivals of the Partido Republicano Genuino finally gained power in 1930. He died while exiled in Chile on May 1, 1939.
The province of Bautista Saavedra Province
was named after this former President. Its capital is Charazani
.
President of Bolivia
The President of Bolivia is head of state and head of government of Bolivia. According to the current Constitution, the president is elected by popular vote to a five year term, renewable once...
, first as part of a governing junta between 1920–21, and then as constitutionally-elected President of the Republic between 1921 and 1925.
As leader of the insurgent Republican Party, he instigated and led the coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
of 1920 against the long-ruling Liberal Party of President José Gutiérrez Guerra. He had a turbulent term, as his party fragmented almost immediately after the coup, with a large fraction of it going on to form the Partido Republicano-Genuino (Genuine Republican party). Essentially, the split was due to opposition to the largely personalist, centralized, and caudillo
Caudillo
Caudillo is a Spanish word for "leader" and usually describes a political-military leader at the head of an authoritarian power. The term translates into English as leader or chief, or more pejoratively as warlord, dictator or strongman. Caudillo was the term used to refer to the charismatic...
-like governing style of Saavedra. He quickly expelled from the country most top-leaders of the Genuino party, and often made use of extra-constitutional means to remain in power.
Unable to run for re-election in 1925, Saavedra did the next best thing and made sure a hand-picked successor would follow him, presumably one firmly under his thumb. His first choice, Gabino Villanueva, failed to be sufficiently pliable for the President's liking, and Saavedra annulled the 1925 elections on a technicality. Nationwide protests at this transparent effort to manipulate the elections and prolong Saavedra's stay in office forced the President to resign, leaving in his place Felipe Segundo Guzmán
Felipe Segundo Guzmán
Felipe Segundo Guzmán was a caretaker Bolivian President who led his country during at 11-month period stretching from September 1925 to August 1926.Guzmán was born in La Paz...
, the President of the Senate. The latter, clearly a "Saavedra's man," called elections for 1926.
Saavedra thus renewed his quest to find the ideal proxy candidate through which to rule. He found the perfect man in Hernando Siles
Hernando Siles Reyes
Hernando Siles Reyes was the 31st President of Bolivia, serving from 1926-1930.Founder of the Nationalist Party, he soon gravitated toward the Saavedrista faction of the Republican Party, which had come to power in 1920...
, who ran in the elections along with Bautista Saavedra's own brother, Abdón Saavedra
Abdón Saavedra
Abdón Saavedra Mallea served as Vice President of Bolivia from 1926 to 1930, during the presidency of Hernando Siles Reyes. He was brother of president Bautista Saavedra.-References:...
, as his Vice-Presidential running mate. This allowed the meddling former President to continue to run the strings of the Bolivian government—or so he thought, for President Siles eventually tired of Saavedra's heavy-handed meddling and exiled him along with his brother (his own Vice-President).
Saavedra remained an influential political leader after that, but never returned to power, especially since his arch-rivals of the Partido Republicano Genuino finally gained power in 1930. He died while exiled in Chile on May 1, 1939.
The province of Bautista Saavedra Province
Bautista Saavedra Province
Bautista Saavedra is one of the twenty provinces of the Bolivian department of La Paz and is situated in the department's northwestern parts. The province's name honors Bautista Saavedra Mallea , Bolivia's president from 1920 to 1925.- Location :...
was named after this former President. Its capital is Charazani
Charazani
- Location :Charazani is the capital of Bautista Saavedra Province and central town of the Charazani Municipality. It is situated on a spur at an elevation of 3,200 m amsl between Cordillera Muñecas in the south and Cordillera Apolabamba in the north, on a Mapiri River tributary which itself flows...
.