Gregorio Conrado Álvarez

Gregorio Conrado Álvarez Armelino (* November 26, 1925 in Montevideo) is an Uruguayan general and politician. From 1981 to 1985 he was president during the military dictatorship as head of state and head of government of Uruguay.

Since his promotion to General in 1971 Alvarez led the fight against the leftist guerrilla movement Tupamaros. After the military coup on June 27, 1973, a National Security Council ( Consejo de Seguridad Nacional) was introduced, the Álvarez board as Secretary General. In a referendum in 1980 was a proposed constitutional reform by the military, which should give them more power, rejected - and so the will of the majority of the population for the return to democracy clearly. The military now prepared a program to return power to a civilian government.

The elections for 1981 were promised for four years did not take place. Álvarez was himself appointed by the "Council of the Nation" as the successor of Aparicio Méndez, with effect from 1 September 1981 for the president. He was actually considered ( for Uruguayan conditions of his time) "liberal" and as a marketer, but continued the military dictatorship. Small easing - as the re Allowing parties 1982 - did not help: the economic and social problems of Uruguay did not improve. This Álvarez lost support even among the majority of the military. Since mid-1983, there have been large demonstrations. In January 1984, the unions called for the largest ever protest against military rule: a 24-hour general strike. Alvarez responded initially with union bans and news censorship, but ultimately agreed that in November 1984, could be held for the first time since 1971, free elections. These Julio María Sanguinetti sat down by the Partido Colorado. Álvarez resigned February 12, 1985; to hold office until Sanguinetti on March 1 was the president of the Supreme Court, Rafael Addiego Bruno, interim President of Uruguay. With the assumption of office by Sanguinetti ended twelve years military dictatorship.

In August 2005, prosecutors announced Uruguayan human rights organizations, they wanted to try to prosecute military and civilian leaders of the military dictatorship. In the center of the process ex-President Álvarez should stand. The internationally recognized offense of " crimes against humanity " should this be negotiated. In May 2006, Álvarez was one of ten former generals who officially " for the deeds committed by their subordinates in the time of the fight against subversion " the responsibility assumed. In an open letter stressed the ten that " all military acted on her order " and would make this "battle" as " fulfillment of the service obligation" dar.

In October 2009, Alvarez was convicted in relation to 37 murders during his time as head of the army and during his reign and sentenced to a prison term of 25 years.

Álvarez is currently (as of: January 20, 2013) housed in prison Domingo Arena.