Federico Chávez

Dr. Federico Chávez Careaga (February 15, 1882 - April 24, 1978) was a Paraguayan politician and soldier who served as President of Paraguay from September 10 1949 to May 5 1954. He was a member of the Colorado Party.

Chávez was born on February 15, 1882 in Paraguarí. His parents were the Portuguese Federico Chávez and his wife Felicia Caraega, from Guaira, Paraguay.

Political History

Chávez, who received his law degree in 1905, was a longtime leader of the right-of-centre Colorado (National Republican) Party. When his party served in a coalition government in 1946, Chávez was appointed to the Supreme Court. He served as Paraguay's foreign minister up until he was elected president on July 15, 1950, for a three-year term and later reelected in 1953. When Chávez tried to strengthen his regime by arming the national police in 1954, a coup d'état led by General Alfredo Stroessner on May 5 ended his administration.

Death

Chávez died in 1978 in the city of Asunción, from natural causes. He was buried with full state honours; Stroessner attended the services.

ource

Crónica Histórica Ilustrada del Paraguay, Distribuidora Quevedo de Ediciones, Buenos Aires, ISBN 987-9246-03-9 (Page 856)