First Presidency of Carlos Andrés Pérez
Encyclopedia
The First Presidency of Carlos Andrés Pérez
(from 1974 to 1979) coincided with the oil boom of 1974 which saw Venezuela's explode. "CAP" launched a program of rapid modernization. His first presidency also saw the nationalization of the oil industry. He regained the presidency in 1988 (Second Presidency of Carlos Andrés Pérez
).
In 1973, Carlos Andrés Pérez was nominated to run for the presidency for AD. Youthful and energetic, Perez ran a vibrant and triumphalist campaign, one of the first to use the services of American advertising gurus and political consultants in the country’s history. During the run up to elections, he visited nearly all the villages and cities of Venezuela by foot and walked more than 5800 kilometers. He was elected in December of that year, receiving 48.7% of the vote against the 36.7% of his main rival. Turnout in these elections reached an unprecedented 97% of all eligible voters, a level which has not been achieved since.
of 1973, contributed to the implementation of this vision. Drastic increases in petroleum prices that led to an economic bonanza for the country just as Pérez started his term. His policies, including the nationalization of the iron and petroleum industries, investment in large state-owned industrial projects for the production of aluminium and hydroelectric energy, infrastructure improvements and the funding of social welfare and scholarship programmes, were extremely ambitious and involved massive government spending, to the tune of almost $53 billion. His measures to protect the environment and foster sustainable development earned the Earth Care award in 1975, the first time a Latin American leader had received this recognition.
In the international arena, Perez supported democratic and progressive causes in Latin America and the world. He opposed the Somoza
and Pinochet dictatorships and played a crucial role in the finalizing of the agreement for the transfer of the Panama Canal
from American to Panamanian control. In 1975, with Mexican President Luis Echeverria
, he found SELA, the Latin American Economic System, created to foster economic cooperation and scientific exchange between the nations of Latin America. He also supported the democratization process in Spain, as he brought Felipe González
, who was living in exile, back to Spain in a private flight and thus strengthened the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
.
Towards the end of his first term in office, Pérez's reputation was tarnished by accusations of excessive, and disorderly, government spending. His administration was often referred to as Saudi Venezuela for its grandiose and extravagant ambitions. In addition, there were allegations of corruption and trafficking of influence, often involving members of Pérez's intimate circle, such as his mistress Cecilia Matos, or financiers and businessmen who donated to his campaign. A well-publicized rift with his former mentor Betancourt and disgruntled members of AD all pointed to the fading of Perez’s political standing. By the 1978 elections, there was a sense among many citizens that the influx of petrodollars after 1973 had not been properly managed. The country was importing 80% of all foodstuffs consumed. Agricultural production was stagnant. The national debt had skyrocketed. And whilst per capita income had increased and prosperity was evident in Caracas and other major cities, the country was also more expensive and a significant minority of Venezuelans were still mired in poverty. This malaise led to the defeat of AD at the polls by the opposition Social Christian Party
. The newly elected president, Luis Herrera Campíns, famously stated in his inaugural speech that he was “inheriting a mortgaged country.”
Carlos Andrés Pérez
Carlos Andrés Pérez Rodríguez , also known as CAP and often referred to as El Gocho , was a Venezuelan politician, President of Venezuela from 1974 to 1979 and again from 1989 to 1993. His first presidency was known as the Saudi Venezuela due to its economic and social prosperity thanks to...
(from 1974 to 1979) coincided with the oil boom of 1974 which saw Venezuela's explode. "CAP" launched a program of rapid modernization. His first presidency also saw the nationalization of the oil industry. He regained the presidency in 1988 (Second Presidency of Carlos Andrés Pérez
Second Presidency of Carlos Andrés Pérez
The Second Presidency of Carlos Andrés Pérez saw an economic crisis, a major riot in which hundreds were killed by security forces , two coup attempts in 1992, and the 1993 impeachment of "CAP" for corruption...
).
Background
| Venezuelan Presidential election 1973 http://www.cne.gov.ve/estadisticas/e006.pdf | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Results | |||||||||||||||||||||
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In 1973, Carlos Andrés Pérez was nominated to run for the presidency for AD. Youthful and energetic, Perez ran a vibrant and triumphalist campaign, one of the first to use the services of American advertising gurus and political consultants in the country’s history. During the run up to elections, he visited nearly all the villages and cities of Venezuela by foot and walked more than 5800 kilometers. He was elected in December of that year, receiving 48.7% of the vote against the 36.7% of his main rival. Turnout in these elections reached an unprecedented 97% of all eligible voters, a level which has not been achieved since.
Presidency
One of the most radical aspects of Pérez's program for government was the notion that petroleum oil was a tool for under-developed nations like Venezuela to attain first world status and usher a fairer, more equitable international order. International events, including the Yom Kippur WarYom Kippur War
The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War , also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria...
of 1973, contributed to the implementation of this vision. Drastic increases in petroleum prices that led to an economic bonanza for the country just as Pérez started his term. His policies, including the nationalization of the iron and petroleum industries, investment in large state-owned industrial projects for the production of aluminium and hydroelectric energy, infrastructure improvements and the funding of social welfare and scholarship programmes, were extremely ambitious and involved massive government spending, to the tune of almost $53 billion. His measures to protect the environment and foster sustainable development earned the Earth Care award in 1975, the first time a Latin American leader had received this recognition.
Somoza
The Somoza family was an influential political dynasty who ruled Nicaragua as an hereditary dictatorship. Their influence exceeded their combined 43 years in the de facto presidency, as they were the power behind the other presidents of the time through their control of the National Guard...
and Pinochet dictatorships and played a crucial role in the finalizing of the agreement for the transfer of the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
from American to Panamanian control. In 1975, with Mexican President Luis Echeverria
Luis Echeverría
Luis Echeverría Álvarez served as President of Mexico from 1970 to 1976.-Early history:Echeverría joined the faculty of the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 1947 and taught political theory...
, he found SELA, the Latin American Economic System, created to foster economic cooperation and scientific exchange between the nations of Latin America. He also supported the democratization process in Spain, as he brought Felipe González
Felipe González
Felipe González Márquez is a Spanish socialist politician. He was the General Secretary of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party from 1974 to 1997. To date, he remains the longest-serving Prime Minister of Spain, after having served four successive mandates from 1982 to 1996.-Early life:Felipe was...
, who was living in exile, back to Spain in a private flight and thus strengthened the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party is a social-democratic political party in Spain. Its political position is Centre-left. The PSOE is the former ruling party of Spain, until beaten in the elections of November 2011 and the second oldest, exceeded only by the Partido Carlista, founded in...
.
Towards the end of his first term in office, Pérez's reputation was tarnished by accusations of excessive, and disorderly, government spending. His administration was often referred to as Saudi Venezuela for its grandiose and extravagant ambitions. In addition, there were allegations of corruption and trafficking of influence, often involving members of Pérez's intimate circle, such as his mistress Cecilia Matos, or financiers and businessmen who donated to his campaign. A well-publicized rift with his former mentor Betancourt and disgruntled members of AD all pointed to the fading of Perez’s political standing. By the 1978 elections, there was a sense among many citizens that the influx of petrodollars after 1973 had not been properly managed. The country was importing 80% of all foodstuffs consumed. Agricultural production was stagnant. The national debt had skyrocketed. And whilst per capita income had increased and prosperity was evident in Caracas and other major cities, the country was also more expensive and a significant minority of Venezuelans were still mired in poverty. This malaise led to the defeat of AD at the polls by the opposition Social Christian Party
COPEI
Copei – Social Christian Party of Venezuela is a third way political party in Venezuela. The name stands for Comité de Organización Política Electoral Independiente...
. The newly elected president, Luis Herrera Campíns, famously stated in his inaugural speech that he was “inheriting a mortgaged country.”
Cabinet
| Ministries | ||
|---|---|---|
| OFFICE | NAME | TERM |
| President | Carlos Andrés Pérez | 1974–1979 |
| Home Affairs | Luis Piñerua Ordáz | 1974–1975 |
| Octavio Lepage Octavio Lepage Octavio Lepage Barreto, was Acting President of Venezuela from 21 May 1993 to 5 June 1993.... |
1975–1978 | |
| Manuel Mantilla | 1978–1979 | |
| Foreign Relations | Efraín Schacht Aristiguieta | 1974–1975 |
| Ramón Escovar Salom | 1975–1977 | |
| Simón Alberto Consalvi Simón Alberto Consalvi Simón Alberto Consalvi , is a Venezuelan politician, journalist, diplomat and historian. He was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela on two occasions , Minister of Interior and Justice , Secretary of the Presidency , and also held several Ambassadorships... |
1977–1979 | |
| Finance | Héctor Hurtado | 1974–1977 |
| Luis José Silva Luongo | 1977–1979 | |
| Defense | Homero Leal Torres | 1974–1976 |
| Francisco Álvarez Torres | 1976–1977 | |
| Fernando Paredes Bello | 1977–1979 | |
| Development | Carmelo Lauría Lesseur | 1974 |
| Constantino Quero Morales | 1974–1975 | |
| José Ignacio Casal | 1975–1976 | |
| Luis Álavarez Domínguez | 1976–1979 | |
| Education | Luis Manuel Peñalver | 1974–1977 |
| Carlos Rafael Silva | 1977–1979 | |
| Gerardo Cedeño Fermín | 1979 | |
| Justice | Otto Marín Gómez | 1974–1975 |
| Armando Sánchez Bueno | 1975–1976 | |
| Juan Martín Echeverría | 1976–1979 | |
| Mines and Hydrocarbons | Valentín Hernández Acosta | 1974–1979 |
| Environment | Arnoldo José Gabaldón | 1977–1979 |
| Agriculture | Froilán Álvarez Yépez | 1974 |
| Luis José Oropeza | 1974–1975 | |
| Carmelo Contreras Barboza | 1975 | |
| Gustavo Pinto Cohén | 1975–1979 | |
| Labor | Antonio Leidenz | 1974–1976 |
| José Manzo González | 1976–1979 | |
| Health and Social Assistance | Blas Bruni Celli | 1974–1975 |
| Antonio Parra León | 1975–1979 | |
| Communications | Armando Sánchez Bueno | 1974–1975 |
| Leopoldo Sucre Figarella Leopoldo Sucre Figarella Leopoldo Sucre Figarella , was a Venezuelan politician and engineer. A member of the Sucre family Sucre Figarella served as Governor, Minister and Senator during his long and eventful political career. He was nicknamed "The Builder" and "The Czar of Guayana".-Early career:He was born in Tumeremo in... |
1975–1976 | |
| Jesús Vivas Casanova | 1976–1977 | |
| Transport and communications | Jesús Vivas Casanova | 1977–1979 |
| José Ignacio Álvarez Maldonado | 1979 | |
| Urban Development | Robert Padilla Fernández | 1977–1979 |
| Information and Tourism | Diego Arria | 1977–1978 |
| Celestino Armas | 1978–1979 | |
| Youth | Pedro París Montesinos | 1977 |
| Alfredo Baldó Casanova | 1977–1979 | |
| Secretary of Presidency | Ramón Escovar Salom | 1974–1979 |
| Efraín Schacht Aristiguieta | 1975–1976 | |
| José Luis Salcedo Bastardo José Luis Salcedo Bastardo José Luis Salcedo Bastardo , was a Venezuelan historian and diplomat. He was born in Carúpano, and died in Caracas.-References:#... |
1976–1979 | |
| Office of Coordination and Planification | Gumersindo Rodríguez | 1974–1977 |
| Lorenzo Azpúrua Marturet | 1977–1979 | |
See also
- Carlos Andrés PérezCarlos Andrés PérezCarlos Andrés Pérez Rodríguez , also known as CAP and often referred to as El Gocho , was a Venezuelan politician, President of Venezuela from 1974 to 1979 and again from 1989 to 1993. His first presidency was known as the Saudi Venezuela due to its economic and social prosperity thanks to...
- Second Presidency of Carlos Andrés PérezSecond Presidency of Carlos Andrés PérezThe Second Presidency of Carlos Andrés Pérez saw an economic crisis, a major riot in which hundreds were killed by security forces , two coup attempts in 1992, and the 1993 impeachment of "CAP" for corruption...
- Presidents of Venezuela