Gabriel París Gordillo
Gabriel París Gordillo | |
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Minister of Justice | |
In office February 9, 1954 – August 7, 1954 | |
President | Gustavo Rojas Pinilla |
Preceded by | Antonio Escobar Camargo |
Succeeded by | Luis Caro Escallón |
Personal details | |
Born | Gabriel París Gordillo (1910-03-08)March 8, 1910 Colombia-Peru War |
Gabriel París Gordillo (March 8, 1910 – March 21, 2008) was a Colombian military officer and political leader who ruled the country as the chairman of a military junta from May 1957 to August 1958, following the resignation of General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla. París oversaw the regime's transition to electoral democracy after four years of military dictatorship, and turned over power to Alberto Lleras Camargo of the National Front.
Biographic data
General Gabriel París was born in Ibagué, Tolima, on March 8, 1910.[1]
Early years
Gabriel París studied at the Colegio San Simón in
War with Peru
Promotions as officer
Gabriel París was promoted to Major in 1941 at the Colombia Superior School of War. In 1941 was later promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and was sent to study in Fort Leavenworth, United States. He was later assigned trainer at the Colombian Superior School of War and Chief of the Mounted and Veterinary. In 1949 was assigned commander of the Grupo N° 2 Rondón unit and in 1950, Chief of the Second Brigade, based in Barranquilla. He was later assigned commander of the Fourth Brigade, based in Medellín.
Under Rojas Pinillas rule
During the government of President Gustavo Rojas Pinilla, París was appointed to many public office posts.
General of the Army
París was promoted to Brigadier General on February 28, 1953 and assigned commander of the Colombian Army. On June 27 of this same year París was appointed alternative representative of Colombia in the disarmament commission of the
Ministries
París was appointed Minister of Justice on February 9, 1954 and later on August 7 appointed as Minister of War. He also managed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs temporarily. París occupied the presidency of Colombia temporarily while General Rojas Pinilla visited Ecuador between July 30 and August 2 in 1955. On February 29, 1956 París was promoted to the rank of Major General.
Military Junta
Civil unrest and, political upheaval and public discontent had turned the country into chaos. Angry and violent street demonstrations and a general strike on May 10, 1957, brought down the government of General
The other four members of the Junta received the same title. The first decrees of the Junta were to restore peace and order, freedom of speech and association, freedom of the press, adherence to the Constitution and calling for a presidential election as soon as possible. In order to ease tensions, the Junta also appointed as Ministers of the presidential cabinet highly reputed members of both political parties.Gobernantes Colombianos, Ignacio Arismendi Posada, Interprint Editors Ltd., Italgraf, Segunda Edición, Page 228, Bogotá, Colombia, 1983 Besides restoring peace and order, the Junta’s main concern was the economy. The nation had a huge fiscal deficit, the trade deficit was exorbitant and the national debt had surpassed the $500 million dollars.
This situation had caused a very high unemployment and triggered a recession, which was turning into a depression. In order to address this urgent matter, the Junta created an economic and financial task force, preside by
Regarding international trade and commerce, the administration of General París and the Junta, implemented the "Plan Vallejo" which was designed to promote and stimulate exports and to reduce unnecessary imports. The Junta also encouraged foreign private investment and eased monetary operations and exchange rates. General París and the Junta initiated international negotiations with major world producing countries to establish what would be known as the “Pacto Mundial” (world accord). In the political front, in order to honor the agreements of the "Treaty of Sitges”, the Junta would call a general election.
The treaty, signed by former presidents Laureano Gómez and Alberto Lleras Camargo in June, 1957, prescribed for the Junta to hold a general election on December 1, of that same year, as a national plebiscite to legitimize the National Front.
End of Military Junta
On May 4, 1958 popular elections took place to replace the Military Junta and transition once again into a democracy.
Recognitions
In 1996 París was decorated by the Municipal Council of Bogotá in the 150th anniversary of the installation of the
Personal life
On 28 September 1936, Gabriel París married María Felisa Quevedo París (his cousin) (11 May 1911 – 17 June 1994), and had four children: Gabriel, Jaime, Gloria and Ligia Carolina París Quevedo. He lived his last days at a ranch named ‘El Recreo' in a vereda named El Topacio in Flandes. At the age of 98 years was the last survivor of the military junta and the eldest former president of Colombia.[citation needed]
External links
- Rulers.org
- Luis Angel Arango Library: Gabriel París Gordillo Archived 2010-08-09 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
References
- ^ Gobernantes Colombianos, Ignacio Arismendi Posada, Interprint Editors Ltd., Italgraf, Segunda Edición, Page 227, Bogotá, Colombia, 1983
Government offices | ||
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Preceded by | President of Colombia (Colombian Military Junta) 1957–1958 |
Succeeded by |
International | |
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National |