Fidel Sánchez Hernández
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General Fidel Sánchez Hernández | |
---|---|
32nd President of El Salvador | |
In office 1 July 1967 – 1 July 1972 | |
Vice President | Humberto Guillermo Cuestas |
Preceded by | Julio Adalberto Rivera |
Succeeded by | Arturo Armando Molina |
Minister of the Interior | |
In office 1 July 1962 – 1 July 1967 | |
President | Julio Adalberto Rivera |
Succeeded by | Francisco Armando Arias |
Personal details | |
Born | 7 July 1917 El Divisadero, El Salvador |
Died | 28 February 2003 San Salvador, El Salvador | (aged 85)
Political party | National Conciliation Party |
Spouse | Marina Uriarte |
Children | 4 |
Parent(s) | Vicente Sánchez Estrada Teresa Hernández Echeverría |
Occupation | Military, politician |
Military service | |
Allegiance | El Salvador |
Branch/service | Salvadoran Army |
Rank | General |
Battles/wars | Football War |
Fidel Sánchez Hernández (7 July 1917 – 28 February 2003) was a Salvadoran military officer and politician who served as president of El Salvador from 1967 to 1972.[1] During his rule, Sánchez Hernández faced war and economic turmoil.
Military career
Before becoming president, Sánchez Hernández was an army general in El Salvador and had brief stints as a
Presidency
He continued Rivera's progressive programs and created a mostly civilian cabinet. The 1967 election was considered[by whom?] one of the few in the period of military domination to have been fairly conducted; the gains made by the opposition (winning a majority of the popular vote) in the legislative and local elections the following year suggested El Salvador was on the road to democratization, a trend that would not be continued as elections in the 1970s were blatantly rigged.[according to whom?][citation needed]
In July 1969, Sánchez Hernández led the Salvadoran Army in its brief but violent Football War against Honduras. He had much success, occupying a large part of that country. But, under a cease-fire agreement arranged by the Organization of American States, Sánchez Hernández agreed to pull his troops out, much to the opposition of many of his military leaders.[citation needed]
The war with Honduras led to much economic distress in El Salvador. Refugees, mostly Salvadorans that resided in Honduras, poured into the country and Honduras closed off trade routes.[citation needed]
Sánchez Hernández remained president until 1972 and was succeeded by Colonel Arturo Armando Molina.[2]
Death
On the night of 28 February 2003, Sánchez Hernández, aged 85, died of a heart attack while being taken to a military hospital in El Salvador.
Orders and decorations
The following is a list of orders and decorations awarded to Sánchez Hernández:[3]
- Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella (13 November 1970)
- Order of the Quetzal (3 September 1968)
- Collar of the Order of the Aztec Eagle (16 January 1958)
- Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
- Grand Order of Mugunghwa (22 September 1970)
- Grand National Order (4 March 1969)
- Grand Cordon of the Order of the Cloud and Banner (14 February 1968)
- Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (11 August 1971)
References
- ^ "Gral. Fidel Sánchez Hernández — Asamblea Legislativa". Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
- ^ "Biografia de Fidel Sánchez Hernández". www.biografiasyvidas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ "Gral. Fidel Sánchez Hernández". asamblea.gob.sv (in Spanish). Legislative Assembly of El Salvador. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2022.