Luis Arturo González López | |
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President of the Republic of Guatemala | |
In office 26 July 1957 – 24 October 1957 | |
Preceded by | Carlos Castillo Armas |
Succeeded by | Óscar Mendoza Azurdia |
Personal details | |
Born | 21 December 1900 Zacapa, Guatemala |
Died | 11 November 1965 (aged 64) Guatemala City, Guatemala |
Political party | National Liberation Movement |
Luis Arturo González López (21 December 1900 – 11 November 1965) was a politician in Guatemala and the acting President of Guatemala from 27 July 1957 to 24 October 1957.
Born in the town of Zacapa, González López studied law, and served as a judge in several cities. [1] He was a member of the Supreme Court for seven years from 1945 to 1951, before being removed: reports stated that he was removed due to pressure from the communist parties. [1] He was appointed Vice-President to Carlos Castillo Armas in 1957. [1] On 26 July 1957, Castillo Armas was shot dead in the Guatemalan capital by a member of the presidential guard. [2] [3] González López held the position of "First Presidential Designate", and was sworn in as interim president on 27 July. [4]
Supporters of Castillo Armas were considering forming a military junta and seizing power, but were dissuaded by Edwin J. Sparks. the U.S. ambassador to Guatemala. The U.S. government preferred to preserve a facade of democracy, rather than have Guatemala revert to a blatant dictatorship. [5] Elections were held in October 1957, complicated by pressure from the U.S. government, the government of Dominica, and the army. [5]
The centrist Miguel Ortiz Passarelli won a plurality in these elections, but supporters of Miguel Ydígoras Fuentes, who had also been a candidate in the election, rioted. [6] [2] The Guatemalan government declared martial law for a period of 30 days. On 24 October, a group of 80 military officers marched into the Presidential palace and replaced González López with a three-person junta led by army Colonel Óscar Mendoza Azurdia. [6] New elections were held in January 1958. Ydígoras Fuentes comfortably won this election and seized power for himself soon after. [2]
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