Rómulo Betancourt and Rómulo Gallegos: Venezuelan Leaders
Rómulo Betancourt: A Key Figure in 20th-Century Venezuelan Politics
Rómulo Betancourt is recognized as one of the most important Venezuelan political figures of the 20th century. His participation in Venezuelan politics began in 1928 when, as a student leader, he addressed, along with other outstanding young people at the time, the first popular demonstration against the dictatorship of Juan Vicente Gómez. Betancourt was one of the staunchest opponents of *Gomecismo*, a condition that cost him his banishment from the country until the dictator’s death.
Between 1931 and 1935, he was a member of the Communist Politburo of the Costa Rican Communist Party. He was later expelled during the governments of Eleazar López Contreras and the military governments that took power from 1949 to 1958. In 1941, he founded, together with other prominent leaders of the Venezuelan political left, the *Acción Democrática* party, which soon became the country’s first political party for the remainder of the century.
Presidency and Political Achievements
In 1945, facing the government’s refusal of Isaías Medina Angarita to legalize popular elections for president, he joined the civil-military coup of October 18, in order to establish a transitional government. This government would ensure the establishment of various emergency law decrees and free elections in the coming years for the President of the nation. One day after the overthrow of Medina, on October 19, he was appointed interim President of the Revolutionary Government Junta, composed of civilians and military personnel.
The main goals of the transitional government were to introduce free suffrage (direct, universal, and secret), giving full guarantees to political parties, fighting administrative corruption, and alleviating the cost of living. His first term ended on February 15, 1948, following the election of Rómulo Gallegos.
In 1958, he returned to the country after the fall of dictator Marcos Pérez Jiménez. In November of that year, he announced his candidacy for President of the Republic with the support of AD. On December 7, he was elected president with more than 49% of the vote. On February 13, 1959, he assumed the position.
Second Term and Legacy
His second government was marked by:
- An openness to the stabilization of Venezuelan democracy.
- The promulgation of a new Constitution.
- Land reform.
- The development of the oil industry in Venezuela, including its membership in OPEC.
- Heavy investment in education.
- Termination of relationships with illegitimate or dictatorial governments of the world.
He also had to face internal and external attacks by guerrillas, labor strikes, coup attempts, and assassination attempts financed by Latin American dictators. The end of his term in 1964 would be the beginning of an era of democratic governments. Currently, most Venezuelan historians recognize Betancourt as the father of Venezuelan democracy.
Rómulo Gallegos: Novelist and President
Rómulo Gallegos Freire (born in Caracas, 1884 – died in Caracas, April 5, 1969) was a Venezuelan novelist and politician. He is considered the most important Venezuelan novelist of the 20th century and one of the greatest Latin American literary figures of all time. Some of his novels, such as Doña Bárbara, have become classics of Latin American literature.
Brief Presidential Term
He held the post of President of Venezuela in 1948 for a few short months (nine months). He became the first president directly elected by secret and universal suffrage by the Venezuelan people. He is also the President of the Republic who has won the highest percentage of votes in his favor in popular elections held in the country at any time, with more than 80% of the total votes.