| Rafael Caldera | |
|---|---|
| 54th President of Venezuela | |
| In office 11 March 1969 – 12 March 1974 |
|
| Preceded by | Raúl Leoni |
| Succeeded by | Carlos Andrés Pérez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 January 1916 San Felipe, Yaracuy |
| Died | 24 December 2009 (aged 93) Caracas, Venezuela[1] |
| Political party | Copei (1946–1993) |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
The First Presidency of Rafael Caldera took place from 1969 to 1974. He was elected again in 1993 (Second Presidency of Rafael Caldera).
Contents |
| Candidates | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Rafael Caldera | 1,083,712 | 29.13% |
| Gonzalo Barrios | 1,050,806 | 28.24% |
| Miguel Angel Burelli | 826,758 | 22.22% |
| Luis Pietro Figueroa | 719,461 | 19.34% |
| Abstention: | 135.311 | 3.27% |
| Total votes: | 3,999,617 |
Caldera's first government emphasized the end of the Betancourt doctrine, which denied Venezuelan diplomatic recognition to any regime, right or left, that came to power by military force. Caldera broke the isolation of Venezuela with the rest of Latin America, recognizing the military governments of the region, and made a policy in defense of the insular territories, and the Gulf of Venezuela, and signed the Port of Spain Protocol with Guyana, which concerned the Guayana Esequiba. The president's economic policies were notable for the reinforcement of the power of the employer's association Fedecámaras, and the period of North American economic crisis, that also characterized the first term of Richard Nixon, with low oil prices, which caused the economic growth of Venezuela to stagnate. Caldera also presided over a period of pacification of the country, making a ceasefire with the left armed groups, which were then integrated into the political life, and legalising the Communist Party of Venezuela in spite of the opposition of Acción Democrática.
Caldera also reformed the 1961 Constitution to remove a ban on election to public office for people who had been sentenced to more than three years in prison, which had been specifically designed to politically disqualify General Marcos Pérez Jiménez, by means of its retroactive application. Caldera closed the Industrial Technical School permanently, and the Central University of Venezuela for two years, due to student protests against his government. On 9 December 1970, Rafael Caldera created the Great Marshal of Ayacucho Institute of National Higher Defence Studies (IAEDEN), to further the development of a state security perspective, and to contribute to the defence culture of the nation.
Caldera, who raised the tax on the rent to the oil companies to 60 percent, initiated the construction of El Tablazo petrochemical complex, in Zulia State. He also inaugurated the Poliedro de Caracas, and the Miguel Pérez Carreño Hospital in Caracas, and concluded the demarcation of borders with Brazil. Rafael Caldera ended his first term as president on 12 March 1974, and was replaced by Carlos Andrés Pérez, from Acción Democrática, who won the 1973 elections.[2]
In 1969, the new government inherited a country with active urban and rural guerrilla movements, bans on two important political parties and many political leaders imprisoned. From the beginning of Caldera's presidency, this practice was suspended and constitutional guarantees thereafter were maintained.
The government arrived with an attitude of ideological pluralism and dialogue across the political spectrum, entered into talks with the armed groups, legalized leftist parties and released jailed politicians, demanding only that they stay within Venezuelan law.
As result from this effort, by the end of Caldera's presidency, for the first time in many years, no significant political organization in Venezuela planned to take control of the government by violent means. At the 1973 elections, leaders of the old guerrilla movements were elected as senators and deputies.[3]
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