José María Lemus
Lieutenant Colonel José María Lemus | |
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30th President of El Salvador | |
In office 14 September 1956 – 26 October 1960 | |
Vice President | Humberto Costa |
Preceded by | Óscar Osorio |
Succeeded by | Junta of Government Eusebio Cordón Cea as President |
Personal details | |
Born | 22 July 1911 La Unión, El Salvador |
Died | 31 March 1993(1993-03-31) (aged 81) San José, Costa Rica |
Political party | Revolutionary Party of Democratic Unification |
Spouse | Coralia Párraga de Lemus |
Children | 7 |
Occupation | Politician, military |
Military service | |
Allegiance | El Salvador |
Branch/service | Salvadoran Army |
Years of service | 1933–1960 |
Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
Lieutenant Colonel José María Lemus López (22 July 1911 – 31 March 1993) was president of El Salvador from 14 September 1956 to 26 October 1960. Before becoming a president, he served as an undersecretary of defense and a minister of the interior.[1]
Life and career
He was born into a family of humble beginnings in La Unión, El Salvador. He was undersecretary of defense from 1948-1949. As President Óscar Osorio's choice for the successor to presidency, he antagonized many by fighting against corruption.[2] Having won the disputed election of 1956, he appointed prominent civilians into his government and allowed many exiles to return the country.[citation needed]
He was a member of the Party of Democratic Unification. He continued socio-economic reforms of his predecessor, but there was no improvement in the living standards of the working class.[3] He promulgated the Tenant Law, which protects the rights of the renters of houses or "Mesones, called also Vecindades" (apartment units with shared bathrooms).[citation needed] The law stipulating that landlords cannot increase the rent more than 10% every year made rent contract in houses obligatory with the objective of protecting the renter.[citation needed]
His government repealed the anti-sedition laws, therefore antagonizing the military. His government's decision to control the production of coffee infuriated the public. Soon after the Cuban revolution, there were widespread student protests. There was a subsequent roundup of dissidents and protesters.[4]
Overthrow and death
Following these uncertainties, he was overthrown in a bloodless coup and a new, short-lived Junta government was formed consisting of three military (Miguel Ángel Castillo, César Yanes Urías, Rubén Alonso Rosales) and three civilian (Ricardo Falla Cáceres, Fabio Castillo Figueroa, Rene Fortín Magaña).[citation needed]
After his exile, he lived in New York City until his death in San Jose, Costa Rica. He died of Hodgkin's lymphoma, leaving behind a wife and eight children.[citation needed]
References
- "Terra España - Noticias, deportes, música, moda y más". Terra.es. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by | President of El Salvador 1956–1960 | Succeeded by Military Junta |
- v
- t
- e
- Lindo†
- Arce†
- Marín†
- J. J. Guzmán
- D. Villacorta†
- Marín†
- J. J. Guzmán
- C. Molina†
- Arce†
- C. Molina†
- Arce†
- Palacios†
- Malespín
- Palacios†
- J. E. Guzmán
- Palacios†
- Aguilar
- Palacios†
- Aguilar
- Medina†
- Quirós†
- Vasconcelos
- R. Rodríguez†
- Vasconcelos
- Dueñas†
- Quirós†
- Dueñas
- J. M. San Martín†
- Dueñas
- V. Gómez†
- J. M. San Martín
- Dueñas†
- Campo
- Dueñas†
- Campo
- Zepeda†
- Santín
- Barrios†
- Santín
- J. E. Guzmán†
- Peralta†
- Barrios
- Dueñas
- González
- Méndez†
- González
- del Valle
- Zaldívar
- Guirola†
- Zaldívar
- Figueroa†
- Rosales†
- F. Menéndez
- C. Ezeta
- A. Ezeta†
- Gutiérrez
- Regalado
- Escalón
- Figueroa
- M. Araujo
- C. Meléndez†
- Quiñónez†
- C. Meléndez
- Quiñónez†
- J. Meléndez
- Quiñónez
- P. Romero
- A. Araujo
- Civic Directory‡
- Hernández Martínez†
- A. Menéndez†
- Hernández Martínez
- A. Menéndez†
- Aguirre†
- Castaneda
- Revolutionary Council of Government‡
- Osorio
- Lemus
- Junta of Government‡
- Civic-Military Directory‡
- Cordón†
- Rivera
- F. Sánchez
- A. Molina
- C. Romero
- † – Acting or provisional president
- ‡ – Military junta