Rafael Franco
Encyclopedia
Rafael Franco Ojeda was President of Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...

 from February 17, 1936 to August 13, 1937. He was a member of the Febrerista Revolutionary Party.

He was accused of trying to unseat General Alfredo Stroessner
Alfredo Stroessner
Alfredo Stroessner Matiauda, whose name is also spelled Strössner or Strößner , was a Paraguayan military officer and dictator from 1954 to 1989...

 in November 1956, but he adamantly denied this. He returned to Paraguay in 1957 and until his death in 1973 he was the leader of the Partido Febrerista.

His Life

Franco was born in Asunción
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...

 on October 22, 1896, in the house located at the intersection of streets Chile and Haedo (central area of the city).

He was the son of Mr. Federico Franco and Mrs. Marcelina Ojeda. His father was a professor of mathematics at the School of Agronomy, founded by Moisés Santiago Bertoni
Moisés Santiago Bertoni
Mosè Giacomo Bertoni or Moisés Santiago Bertoni was a Swiss botanist. He emigrated to South America in 1884 and lived in Paraguay from 1887 until he died in 1929....

 (worked in the Botanical Garden
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...

, and in 1940 she was transferred to San Lorenzo).

He was married to Deidamea Solalinde. After conducting their basic studies, Franco entered the Military College in 1915. His first assignment, with the rank of second lieutenant, went to Encarnación
Encarnación, Paraguay
Encarnación is the capital city of the Paraguayan department of Itapúa, located at the south of the department, on the right-hand shore of the Paraná River, opposite Posadas, Argentina...

 city Department of Itapua
Itapúa Department
Itapúa is a department in the southern region of Paraguay. The capital is the city of Encarnación. It is divided into 30 districts, making it the department with the most districts in the country.-History:...

 under the command of Colonel Pedro Mendoza. On May 9, 1921, Franco was promoted to first lieutenant Infantry and, on 13 August of the same year he was appointed commander of the Group of machine guns, with a seat in Asunción
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...

.

Trajectory

He was commander of the Infantry Regiment Nro.5 General Eduvigis Diaz, sitting in Bahia Negra. On August 13, 1924, Franco was promoted to captain. On February 10, 1926, he was appointed commander of the company cadets of the Military College. He was assigned important tasks, such as training new cadres of officers or troops. In November 1926, he was appointed commander of the Infantry Regiment Nr. 2, with a seat in Villa Hayes
Villa Hayes
Villa Hayes is a city in Paraguay, and is the capital of the department of Presidente Hayes.-Name:Known as “the City of the Five Names”, it was eventually named in honor of Rutherford B. Hayes, 19th President of the United States.-Weather:...

.

Thus the career of Franco stood, reaching the Paraguayan Chaco
Chaco Department
The Paraguayan Chaco or Región Occidental is a semi-arid region in Paraguay, with a very low population density.The Chaco is a large geographic area that is sparsely populated. Many of those living in the region are native peoples...

, which would be the scene of its greatest victories. In August 1928, Franco was appointed commander of the Military Aviation School. Later, he took the leadership of Infantry Regiment Nr. 5 General Diaz, with a seat in Bahia Negra. He suffered a leg injury due to an accident in his last years at the Military College, when he fell from a horse in the basement of the Cabildo. His troops called him by the affectionate nickname of "Leon Carê."

Rafael Franco spent more than 20 years outside the country. When he returned to Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...

, he performed various jobs to survive. At one point, he was a real-estate broker.

His health had been deteriorating in his late 70s. In the last years of his life, he lived in a small room that was originally a garage located in the streets of Herrera. From there, he sometimes walked to a cafe that was located on the Avenue. There he met with old friends and comrades with whom he talked of politics and on military and social issues.

In September 1973, Franco entered the Americano Hospital because of his serious condition and did not come out alive. He was visited by Colonel Arturo Bray, with whom he maintained an enmity over 30 years. Colonel Rafael Franco died on September 16, 1973. One of the largest flower wreaths were sent by Arturo Bray. The inscription read: "To a great patriot."

Presidency

He was interim president of the Republic since February 17, 1936 until August 13, 1937. Exiled by political issues, its members carried out the movement that the tomb Liberal government of Eusebio Ayala
Eusebio Ayala
Eusebio Ayala was President of Paraguay from 7 November 1921 to 12 April 1923 and again from 15 August 1932 to 17 February 1936. He was a member of the Liberal Party. He was overthrown by Rafael Franco.- His Life :...

 and Franco in power.

Achievements of his Government

  • Claim the Ideals of the Revolution Communards and the Independence Revolution
  • Proclamation to Mcal. Francisco Solano Lopez
    Francisco Solano López (politician)
    Francisco Solano López Carrillo was president of Paraguay from 1862 until his death in 1870. He was officially the eldest son of president Carlos Antonio López, whom he succeeded...

     National Hero without exemplary
  • Fixed the working day of 8 hours per day
  • Sets Aguinaldo
  • On Sunday rest makes it mandatory
  • It establishes that the wage labor include holiday
  • Declares National Hero to Tte. 2nd. Adolfo Rojas Silva, first official fallen into the Chaco War
  • Provides access to the first Japanese settlers
  • To carry out the first Agrarian Reform
    Agrarian reform
    Agrarian reform can refer either, narrowly, to government-initiated or government-backed redistribution of agricultural land or, broadly, to an overall redirection of the agrarian system of the country, which often includes land reform measures. Agrarian reform can include credit measures,...

  • Declare part of the national heritage ruins and colonial art, the reservoir and archaeological objects.
  • Establish rights hitherto unrecognized to the workers, their families and s Self Unionization
  • It repeals the 1870 Constitution and parliament
  • Call a National Constituent Assembly to draft a new and updated Magna Carta.
  • Repealing duties on primary and secondary studies
  • Make a restructuring and modernizing the FF.AA
  • Selling weapons obsolete and worn
  • We sought the acquisition of 60 Italian military aircraft, aware of several causes: the poor and poorly equipped army Pyo., A likely new Bolivian adventure, dangerous pretensions of neighbouring countries to Paraguay, which they considered too weak militarily speaking and the serious events that iban appearing in Europe. The order of these aircraft was later rejected by the liberal government that followed the Cnel. Franco, only very few units arrived, the original contract included:

-- 20 FIAT C.R.32 c (were purchased only 5)

-- 04 FIAT C.R.30B (It bought 2)

-- 04 Breda Ba.25 (We bought 3)

-- 03-Bred Ba.25Idro for the Naval Aviation- (was bought only 1)

-- 21 Caproni AP-1 (were purchased 7)

-- 05 Caproni AP-1Idro-for-Naval Aviation (There were not purchased)

-- 03 Caproni Ghibli (It bought 2)
  • Delivery decorations and amounts to official army
  • Wanted acquisition of the 60 Italian military aircraft, aware of several causes such as: what's wrong and poor equipment ejecito Pyo. A Bolivia
    Bolivia
    Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...

    n provable new adventure, of the dangerous pretensions of countries bordering Paraguay, which they considered very weak militarily speaking, we must also consider the serious events that were appearing in Europe
    Europe
    Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

    . This repertoire
  • End the construction of the Oratory of Our Lady of the Assumption and established as the National Pantheon of Heroes.
  • Rescue remnants of Mcal. Lopez and places them in that Pantheon
  • Establishes the National Holiday every March 1
  • Pension to the war wounded
  • Entrego land to poor peasants
  • Labour rights for women in special tape
  • Payment of wages in cash (the pay was banned in "vouchers" or "silver white")
  • Repatriation of hundreds of their compatriots
  • Reorganization of the State Merchant Fleet
  • Provides for a base price for cotton production
  • Frozen for one year's time the prices of rents and leases
  • Abolish entrance exams for National Schools
  • Pension to Veterans
  • Ferrea maintained a stance of not cede any territory conquered by the Paraguayan army in the Chaco War.
  • Proposes the country's participation in any oil excavation.


'Creations:
  • Ministry of Public Health
  • Ministry of Agriculture
  • National Association of Indigenous
  • National Labour Department
  • National Central of Workers (CNT)
  • National Union Feminist
  • Development Commission and Labour
  • Mobilization Committee Civilian
  • Bank of the Republic of Paraguay
  • Philatelic Section within the Directorate General of Post and Telegraph
  • School of Dentistry
  • Faculty of Economics
  • Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
  • New series of banknotes of 5, 10, 50, 100500 and 1000 heavy weights
  • Foundations Colony and Ports
  • Several hospitals in the country's Interior
  • National Association of Ex-combatants (UPV current Chaco) where appoint Franco as his 1st. Pdte.
  • Adult Education
  • First Civilian Airport
  • Hundreds of Schools and Colleges
  • The School of Arts and Trades
  • Farms-Rural school
  • National Revolutionary Union

Government Cabinet

  • 'Foreign Ministry: Dr. John Stefanich (Chancellor)
  • 'Ministry of the Interior: Dr. Freire Gomez Esteves
  • 'Ministry of War and Navy: Cnel. Arístides Rivas Ortelle
  • 'Ministry of Finance: Dr. Luis Freire Esteves, Alfredo J. Jacquet, Emilio Gardel
  • 'Ministry of Justice, Worship and Public Instruction: Anselmo Jover Peralta, Emilio Gardel, Crescencio Lezcano, Dr. Damian Bruyn
  • 'Ministry of Agriculture: Dr. Bernardino Caballero (grandson of Gral. Bernardino Caballero
    Bernardino Caballero
    Bernardino Caballero Melgarejo was the President of Paraguay from 1881 until 1886 and founder of the Colorado Party....

    ), William Tell Bertoni
  • 'Ministry of Public Health: Dr. Pedro Duarte Ortelle
  • 'Mayor of the City of Asuncion: Dr. Felipe Molas López
    Felipe Molas López
    Felipe Benigno Molas López was President of Paraguay from February 27, 1949 - September 10, 1949, when he resigned.- Childhood and Studies :Born in 1901. Once he completed high school, he pursued Dentistry in Paris...

     (February 2 to October 1936), Dr. Damian Bruyn (October 1936 to June 1937)

Political Biography

He was a founder and historic leader of Febrerista Revolutionary Party, a full member of the Socialist International. He made a brilliant military career, although he won some political issues to be separated from the race, but at the beginning of hostilities with Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...

 was reinstated to the army. He made a brilliant career as a warrior, came to occupy the commander of the Second Corps and conquer Laura important for the Army in defining campaign in part of the Chaco war as Picuiba, Yrendagué and took Carandayty, Charagua and Ingavi.
  • Led the Military School and his name became emblematic figure in postwar politics. In the Chaco War, commanded a division of III Corps, which took an important action in the Battle Field Way. At the end of the war, Franco participated in the Victory Parade as commander of the II Corps, where the crowd asuncena received him in the streets with a pleasant greeting.

External links

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