Juan Esteban Montero
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| Juan Esteban Montero | |
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| In office July 27, 1931 – September 3, 1931 |
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| Vice President(s) | Manuel Trucco Franzani |
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| Preceded by | Pedro Opazo |
| Succeeded by | Manuel Trucco Franzani |
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| In office November 15, 1931 – June 4, 1932 |
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| Preceded by | Manuel Trucco Franzani |
| Succeeded by | Arturo Puga |
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| Born | February 12, 1879 Santiago, Chile |
| Died | February 25, 1948 Santiago, Chile |
| Spouse | Graciela Fehrman |
Juan Esteban Montero Rodríguez (February 12, 1879 - February 25, 1948) was a Chilean political figure. He served twice as president of Chile between 1931 and 1932.
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[edit] Early life
He was born in Santiago, the son of Benjamín Montero and of Eugenia Rodríguez. Juan Esteban Montero studied at the colegio de San Ignacio and at the Universidad de Chile. He graduated as a lawyer on September 16, 1901, and soon after became professor of civil and Roman law at his alma mater. He also worked as a government lawyer and in private practice.
He married Graciela Fehrman Martínez, with whom had three children: Juan Esteban, Benjamín and Carmen.
[edit] Political career
Montero's first incursion in politics was in 1931, when President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo named him Interior Minister. After the resignation of president Ibáñez on July 26, 1931 he reluctantly agreed to serve in similar position to Ibáñez's successor, Pedro Opazo; just to find himself promoted to president the very next day, after Opazo's resignation. Montero, as a way out of the political impasse, inmediately called for presidential elections. In the meanwhile he assumed as Vice President.
Very soon after, Montero accepted the presidential candidacy that was offered to him by the Radical party, and in order to qualify, he resigned his vicepresidency on September 3, 1931. The position was assumed by Manuel Trucco. The Trucco administration was only supposed to be a caretaker one, keeping order in the country until the presidential elections. Nonetheless it was faced with very difficult moments such as a revolt in the navy, caused by the reduction of the salaries of the enlisted men (September 1-5, 1931), which was controlled only after an aerial bombing of the fleet, but which predicted difficult times ahead.
Juan Esteban Montero was the clear winner of the presidential elections, obtaining almost 64% of the popular vote. He took over on November 15, in the midst of a political and economic chaos that resulted from the market crash of 1929. His program called for the implementation of an austerity program that involved the reduction of public expenditures and public salaries, a downsizing of the public administration and an increase of the foreign debt. Notwithstanding these harsh measures, the depreciation of the currency continued, and inflation soared while the Central Bank reserves were at an all time low. This economic program only managed to cause widespread discontent, while in no way improving the economy, and in turn led to his downfall.
On June 4, 1932, colonel Marmaduke Grove staged a coup d'état by taking over the Air Force base of El Bosque, in Santiago, and demanding the resignation of President Montero. Montero refused to call on the army to put down the coup, and instead chose to resign. That same night, the victorious revolutionaries organized a Government Junta composed of retired General Arturo Puga, Eugenio Matte and Carlos Davila, with colonel Grove as their minister of Defense.
After this episode, Montero retired completely from politics, and went back to private practice and business. He died in Santiago, on February 25, 1948, at the age of 69.
[edit] Additional information
[edit] See also
- History of Chile
- Norte Grande insurrection
- Government Junta of Chile (1932)
- Socialist Republic of Chile
- List of coup d'état in Chile
[edit] External links
- Complete biography (Spanish)
- Biography (Spanish)
- Short biography (Spanish)
| Preceded by Pedro Opazo |
President of Chile 1931-1932 |
Succeeded by Arturo Puga |
| Presidents of Chile |  |
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