Juan Manuel Gálvez
Encyclopedia
Juan Manuel Gálvez Durón (1887–1972) was President of Honduras
from 1 January 1949 until 5 December 1954. His election, for the National Party of Honduras
(PNH), ended the 16-year dictatorship
of Tiburcio Carías Andino
.
Once in office, Gálvez demonstrated more independence than had generally been anticipated. Some policies of the Carías administration, such as road building and the development of coffee exports, were continued and expanded. By 1953 nearly one-quarter of the government's budget was devoted to road construction. Gálvez also continued most of the prior administration's fiscal policies, reducing the external debt and ultimately paying off the last of the British bonds. The fruit companies continued to receive favorable treatment at the hands of the Gálvez administration; for example, United Fruit Company
received a highly favorable twenty-five-year contract in 1949.
Gálvez, however, instituted some notable alterations from the preceding fifteen years. Education received increased attention and began to receive a larger share of the national budget. Congress actually passed an income tax law, although enforcement was sporadic at best. The most obvious change was in the political arena. A considerable degree of press freedom was restored, the Liberal Party and other groups were allowed to organize, and even some labor organization was permitted. The labor market was increasingly regulated in this period. Congress passed, and the president signed, legislation establishing the eight-hour workday, paid holidays for workers, limited employer responsibility for work-related injuries, and regulations for the employment of women and children. Rather than impose a successor, Gálvez scheduled free elections for 1954.
Gálvez was deposed by his vice president Julio Lozano Díaz
on 5 December 1954 while being treated abroad for a heart condition. His overthrow followed the 1954 elections
which produced a deadlock due to a split in the National Party.
President of Honduras
This page lists the Presidents of Honduras.Colonial Honduras declared its independence from Spain on 15 September 1821. From 5 January 1822 to 1 July 1823, Honduras was part of the First Mexican Empire of Agustín de Iturbide....
from 1 January 1949 until 5 December 1954. His election, for the National Party of Honduras
National Party of Honduras
The National Party is a centre-right conservative political party in Honduras and the main right-wing political party in the country. Founded in 1902 the PNH is identified with the color blue as its rival the Liberal Party of Honduras , is red. All the democratic elections in Honduras have been...
(PNH), ended the 16-year dictatorship
Dictatorship
A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator. It has three possible meanings:...
of Tiburcio Carías Andino
Tiburcio Carías Andino
Tiburcio Carías Andino was a Honduran military man with a reputation as a strongman. He founded the National Party of Honduras in 1918, and was President of Honduras twice with the first term beginning in April 1924....
.
Once in office, Gálvez demonstrated more independence than had generally been anticipated. Some policies of the Carías administration, such as road building and the development of coffee exports, were continued and expanded. By 1953 nearly one-quarter of the government's budget was devoted to road construction. Gálvez also continued most of the prior administration's fiscal policies, reducing the external debt and ultimately paying off the last of the British bonds. The fruit companies continued to receive favorable treatment at the hands of the Gálvez administration; for example, United Fruit Company
United Fruit Company
It had a deep and long-lasting impact on the economic and political development of several Latin American countries. Critics often accused it of exploitative neocolonialism and described it as the archetypal example of the influence of a multinational corporation on the internal politics of the...
received a highly favorable twenty-five-year contract in 1949.
Gálvez, however, instituted some notable alterations from the preceding fifteen years. Education received increased attention and began to receive a larger share of the national budget. Congress actually passed an income tax law, although enforcement was sporadic at best. The most obvious change was in the political arena. A considerable degree of press freedom was restored, the Liberal Party and other groups were allowed to organize, and even some labor organization was permitted. The labor market was increasingly regulated in this period. Congress passed, and the president signed, legislation establishing the eight-hour workday, paid holidays for workers, limited employer responsibility for work-related injuries, and regulations for the employment of women and children. Rather than impose a successor, Gálvez scheduled free elections for 1954.
Gálvez was deposed by his vice president Julio Lozano Díaz
Julio Lozano Díaz
Julio Lozano Díaz , was first vice-president and then president of Honduras, from 5 December 1954 until 21 October 1956.Previously he was an accountant for the Rosario Mining Company....
on 5 December 1954 while being treated abroad for a heart condition. His overthrow followed the 1954 elections
Honduran general election, 1954
A general election was held in Honduras on 10 October 1954. The elections took place, with relative honesty.The split among the Nationalists enabled the Liberals to win a plurality in the national elections, but without an absolute majority the election was thrown into the National Congress, where...
which produced a deadlock due to a split in the National Party.