Roberto Suazo Córdova

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Roberto Suazo Córdova was born in the city of La Paz, Honduras March 17, 1927. In 1949, he graduated as a doctor in the University of San Carlos of Guatemala. After his graduation, Suazo exercised his profession in the general hospital of the Guatemalan capital. In the year of 1953 Suazo returned to his hometown, where he practiced medicine for 25 years.

During his stay in La Paz, doctor Suazo entered in political life as a Liberal.

With his party; Suazo represented La Paz in the Honduran Congress; and eventually became the most important figure of his party, in 1979. At that time; Suazo replaced as general coordinator of the party, the all time great leader of the Liberal Party: Modesto Rodas.

In 1980 the military rulers headed by General Policarpo Paz, decided to restore the civil power in Honduras, under a new constitution. For this task, Roberto Suazo was elected president of the constitutional convention.

Due to his popularity among the liberals, Suazo came be their presidential candidate for the elections of 1981. In November of that same year, Suazo became the first president constitutional of Honduras; after ten years of military rule.

In the elections for president, doctor Suazo defeated convincingly; the opposing candidate of the National Party of Honduras: Ricardo Zúñiga, with 53% of the popular vote

[edit] Presidency

Roberto Suazo won the elections under the promise to carry out an ambitious program of economic and social development in Honduras. A program like this he thought was badly needed to tackle the country's recession.

For this plan; Suazo counted on U.S. financial aid. Honduras was then, very important for the interests of the Americans in the region. After all, The U.S did not want another Cuba or Nicaragua on its backyard.

Although the American aid arrived plentiful and on time, Suazo's government was incapable of reverting Honduras's damaged economy. The deficit of the country skyrocketed, as military expenditures increased a great deal.

President Suazo tried desperately to find a solution. For that he fired most of the members of his cabinet. But it did not work, the economy went from bad to worse.

At the end of his presidency, Suazo lost the support of all his followers for failure to carry out his promises.