Alfred Stroessner was the last of a rogues gallery of caudillos that included Peron of Argentina, Batista of Cuba, Somoza of Nicaragua and Pinochet of Chile. He strangled poor old Paraguay, driving the heels of his sturdy little boots on it's industry, culture and politics. He was born to a German father and a mother of a wealthy Paraguayan family. He joined the Paraguayan army in 1929, fighting in the Chaco War against Bolivia where he distinguished himself as a competent and effective commander, impressing many who intended taking power once the war was over. Stroessner however played it cool, dawdling in the shadows as a series of coups and short-lived governments rocked Paraguay. In 1951, he was appointed as commander in chief of the army by Federico Chavez in return for assisting him in taking over the Presidency. However, when three years later Chavez attempted to arm the national police, Stroessner turned on him and helped overthrow him. In the elections that followed Stroessner was elected as President, he was in and he wasn't to be shifted easily. He was subsequently re-elected eight times, although there was a constitutional stipulation that no president could serve more than two consecutive terms. In the initial election he was the only candidate, as he was in 1958, in the other elections he won by ridiculously large margins, many times by way over 80%, indicating massive electoral fraud. He kept a stranglehold on power by declaring a state of emergency and renewing it every ninety days, except during elections, until 1987. From 1947, Stroessner's Colorado party was the only legal party in the state, from 1962 opposition parties were nominally permitted but Paraguay remained for all intents and purposes a one party state. The opposition never had a chance of achieving power and members of the opposition were subject to constant harassment. On 3 February 1989, Stroessner was ousted by a coup d'etat led by General Andres Rodriguez, Stroessner fled to Brazil where he lived in exile for over seventeen years.
Russell Shortt is a travel consultant with Exploring Ireland, the leading specialists in customised, private escorted tours, escorted coach tours and independent self drive tours of Ireland. Article source Russell Shortt, http://www.exploringireland.net http://www.visitscotlandtours.com
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