Venezuelan Presidents: Betancourt and Leoni’s Tenures
Rómulo Betancourt’s Presidency (1959-1964)
Rómulo Betancourt, who had previously chaired the Revolutionary Government Junta from October 1945 to March 1948, assumed the constitutional presidency of Venezuela at the age of 52. He secured victory in the direct, universal, and secret ballot elections held on December 7, 1958, garnering 1,284,092 votes, representing 49.18% of the total votes cast for president.
Betancourt’s presidential term was marked by significant achievements in various areas, including:
- Political Freedoms: Establishment of the party system and enactment of the new Constitution.
- Economic Planning: Promulgation of the First National Plan.
- Education: Construction of over 3,000 primary schools and 200 secondary schools.
- Oil Industry: Creation of the Venezuelan Petroleum Corporation (CVP) and support for OPEC.
- Economic Policy: Economic reactivation and land reform.
- Foreign Policy: Defense of democracy on the continent.
During these five years, Venezuela transitioned from a dictatorial regime to a system of liberties. The government enjoyed institutional stability and support from key social groups, including coalition parties, employers, trade unions, the armed forces, and the Catholic Church. This support persisted despite challenges such as left- and right-wing conspiracies, armed struggles, declining oil prices, conflicts with dictatorships in Cuba and elsewhere in the Caribbean, and reduced economic productivity and social development.
It is worth noting that a significant proportion of parliamentarians elected under the COPEI banner were not members of that party. After an unsuccessful attempt to form a coalition government, Rafael Caldera and COPEI decided to govern alone, marking the first single-party rule after 1958.
Raúl Leoni’s Presidency (1964-1969)
Raúl Leoni Otero (born in El Manteco, Bolívar, on April 26, 1905; died in New York, USA, on July 5, 1972) was a Venezuelan lawyer, politician, and mason. He served as President of the Senate and Congress from 1959 to 1963 and as President of Venezuela from 1964 to 1969.
Early Political Career
In 1928, Leoni emerged as a prominent student leader in the Generation of ’28, the first mass opposition movement against the dictatorship of Juan Vicente Gómez. This activism led to his exile from the country. He returned to Venezuela during the government of Eleazar López Contreras but was again expelled for his leadership in the political left.
Return and Rise to Power
Leoni returned to Venezuela in 1941 and co-founded the Democratic Action party. In 1945, he was appointed a member of the Revolutionary Junta, a civilian-military junta that governed the country for the next three years. During this period, he also served as Minister of Labor until the end of Rómulo Gallegos’ government in late 1948. Following a military coup that year, Leoni was imprisoned for eight months before being exiled once more.
Presidency
After the overthrow of Marcos Pérez Jiménez’s dictatorship, Leoni returned to Venezuela. He presided over the Senate and Congress from 1959 to 1963. In 1963, he was nominated as the presidential candidate for the Republic. On December 1, 1963, he was elected president with over 32% of the vote. On March 11, 1964, he assumed office, succeeding Rómulo Betancourt. Dr. Leoni’s presidency was characterized by a flexible and broad-based approach, aimed at pacifying the country and continuing the policies of his predecessor.