Federico Chávez

Federico Chaves Careaga
44th President of Paraguay
In office 10 September 1949 – 5 May 1954
Preceded by	Felipe Molas
Succeeded by	Tomás Romero Interim president
Personal details
Born	February 15, 1882 Paraguarí, Paraguay
Died	April 24, 1978 (aged 96) Asunción, Paraguay
Nationality	Paraguayan
Political party	Colorado Party

Dr. Federico Chaves 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.

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

Political History

Chaves, 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, Chaves was appointed to the Supreme Court. He served as Paraguay's foreign minister from 1947 up until he became president in 1949. He was elected for a three-year term in 1950 and later reelected in 1953. When Chaves 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

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

Sources

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