Jaime Paz Zamora
Jaime Paz Zamora ( born April 15, 1939 in Cochabamba ) was dated August 6, 1989 to August 6, 1993 President of Bolivia. Between 1982 and 1984 he served as Vice President.
Establishment of the MIR and Hernán Siles Zuazo alliance with
Paz Zamora ( distantly related to the three-time Víctor Paz Estenssoro Bolivian President ) studied in Belgium and was an ardent supporter of the left and progressive thing in the turbulent sixties. After he was exiled by dictator Hugo Banzer, he was in 1971 one of the founders of the Left Revolutionary Movement ( Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria, MIR), originally a member of the Socialist International. Soon the MIR acquired the support of much of the Marxist intelligentsia of the country, especially among university students. After Paz had returned to Bolivia in 1978, the MIR was an alliance with the Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario de Izquierda one of the former president Hernán Siles Zuazo. The result was the formation of the Unidad Democrática y Popular ( UDP). It was a beneficial for both sides alliance, because on the one hand Siles had it all, what it the MIR lacking ( experience and legitimacy at the coming of the revolution of 1952 the working class ), while Paz Zamora Siles other hand, secured the support of students and young intellectuals.
The UDP took Siles Zuazo in part on the list in the elections of June 1978. The choice, however, was canceled this. Due to the discovery of a massive election fraud by the candidate General Juan Pereda 1979 elections were carried out for this reason. Also this went wrong because Hernán Siles Zuazo of the UDP with Paz Zamora Although election winner was, but not the necessary majority of 50 % reached that would have been necessary for direct dialing. So it was left to Congress to determine the next government, as specified in the Bolivian Constitution. Surprisingly (or not, if the then lack of democratic practice in Bolivia considered) could Congress does not agree on a candidate, no matter how many ballots were held. Ultimately, the Congress called on the Chairman of the Senate, Dr. Wálter Guevara, as a transitional president. In addition, a further attempt for 1980 was announced.
Worryingly, the ultra-right wing of the Bolivian military began to make it clear that this would not accept the entry of the "extremists" Siles and Paz Zamora in the Palacio Quemado, but the preparations for the election continued unabated. In April plunged the small, chartered plane, in the Paz Zamora traveled and a delegation of UDP politicians, in the Altiplano near La Paz. In this case, all the passengers died except for the vice - presidential candidate. The aircraft had a society is one whose owner Colonel Luis Arce Gómez was the Interior Minister should be under the ruthless military dictatorship Luis Garcia Meza later. No one doubts that the incident was an assassination attempt. As a result, Paz was recovering from his burns and got back into the campaign, supported by the increasing support as a result of " accident ". The winner of the third election in three years was once again the Siles Zuazo - Paz Zamora Alliance. The two had been sworn in, General Luis García Meza if would not have coup on 17 July 1980; an action that brutally interrupted the democratic process.
The UDP in power and Paz Zamora as Vice-President ( 1982-85 )
Paz Zamora initially fled into exile, but returned in 1982 back when the experiment of the military had passed its zenith and the Bolivian economy was on the verge of collapse. For the armed forces, whose reputation had suffered greatly during the dictatorship from 1980 to 1982, a hasty retreat was the only way out of trouble. In October 1982, the results of the 1980 election were followed in order to save the cost of another election, and Siles Zuazo was sworn in; Jaime Paz Zamora served as its Vice President. However, the situation of the economy was bleak, soon developed a hyperinflation in the country. Siles had big problems to control the situation. He also received little support from the political parties or members of Congress. The unions, led Lechín Juan Oquendo, the government paralyzed with ongoing strikes. At this point (1984 ) also dissolved by the MIR Paz Zamora of the government; this action one can very well be described as leaving the sinking ship. Meanwhile, decreased the popularity of Siles ' at a record low, even by the hyperinflation caused, which was constantly with 1982-1985 for fourth- longest ever known inflation.
Change in ideology ( 1985-89 )
1985 prompted the government's inability to Congress, to organize new elections; it also highlighted the fact that Siles had originally been elected five years ago. The MIR was moving at this time after the break with Siles independent, still led by the ubiquitous Paz Zamora, who also represented the presidential candidate of the party. Paz Zamora landed in choosing a respectable third place, was elected as President Víctor Paz Estenssoro of the MNR. During the period 1985-1989 the MIR important ideological changes went through, as Paz Zamora and Oscar oath broke with their Marxist views. This was the time of perestroika, and the days of totalitarian rulers in Eastern Europe seemed to be counted. The swing in the MIR program from the left wing into the bourgeois-liberal environment caused some major conversions to political opponents, of which the most famous was by Antonio Araníbar. Nevertheless, the party won at unity and cohesion. Also the potential voters increased greatly by this action.
The election of 1989 and the alliance with Hugo Banzer
In May 1989, Paz Zamora ran again for president. He landed not far behind the winners Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada and Banzer Hugo third. As usual, none of the three candidates achieved the necessary absolute majority in order to be elected, so the Congress began to discuss once again. Paz Zamora had indeed vowed never to work with Banzer, who had been following the MIR in the seventies. But Banzer had violently broken with the MNR of the election winner Sánchez de Lozada; as the opportunity to form a coalition with Banzer occurred Paz Zamora took it. This action cost him and the MIR in the following years it all. On August 5, 1989 Paz Zamora was declared by Congress as President - thanks to political support from Hugo Banzer. This coalition between MIR and ADN was presented as agreement in favor of Bolivia and the progress of the democratic process. Many citizens supported the others revolted.
The Presidency Paz Zamora (1989-93 )
The reign of Jaime Paz Zamora was pretty uneventful. Limited by its alliance with Banzer and his new views in its possibilities for action, the President recoiled before to lead major changes in the way. He rejected the complete eradication of the coca plant, as proposed by George HW Bush, from. He defended the medical and industrial potential of the Kokas, but he reached very few concrete results. His repeated election campaign slogans, he wanted to make the neoliberal policies of his predecessor, Dr. Paz Estenssoros, undo, led to nothing except that most of the privatizations had stock. All in all, " staggered on " to Paz Zamora through his term of office, without the expectations placed than most left candidate in him to realize anything remotely as well. The most important event of the inner Paz Zamora period had so nothing to do with the President: 1993, Bolivia was able to qualify for the World Cup 1994. On the other hand, his tenure was marked by serious allegations of corruption.
In foreign policy, Paz Zamora negotiated successfully for the assignment of a port on the Peruvian coast.
More failures and the preliminary End of career
The MIR and Paz Zamora went out of the legislature of 1989-93 significantly weakened out, especially after Paz Zamora's most important helper, Oscar Eid, was sentenced to a prison sentence for drug trafficking. From old commitments MIR supported in the presidential elections in 1993, Hugo Banzer, but the plans fell through. Instead, was sworn Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada of the MNR. In 1997, Paz Zamora again set up as a candidate, he again finished third. The next time, in 2001, he was knocked off fourth. Meanwhile, the ME fraction was reduced in Congress at a fraction of the original strength. Paz Zamora's last participation in an election was a kind of gubernatorial election in 2005. Jaime Paz Zamora lost again against a MNR candidate, a former Congress President called Cossio. This seems to have a pretty sad end found his career; a career that was marked by great expectations, many corruption scandals and a series of electoral defeats. Probably sealed Paz Zamora his own fate when he in 1989, the alliance with General Banzer came in and told everything, everything he had ever stood. The short-term success ( the presidency ) outweigh the long years full of defeats not to.
Personal
Jaime Paz Zamora is divorced from his ex-wife Carmen Pereira Carballo.
He is professor of sociology and political science.