| Pedro Carmona | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1941 Barquisimeto |
| Alma mater | Universidad Católica Andrés Bello |
| Profession | business |
Pedro Francisco Carmona Estanga (born 1941 in Barquisimeto, Lara, Venezuela) is a former Venezuelan trade organization leader who was briefly declared President of Venezuela during an abortive 2002 military coup against Hugo Chávez. He occupied the office of President from April 12 to April 13.[1] After Chávez was restored to office, Carmona, wanted by the authorities for illegal usurpation of power,[2] escaped house arrest, fled to Colombia, and later surfaced in Miami, Florida.
Contents |
Carmona was a significant business figure in Venezuela, managing several petrochemical companies in the 1980s and 1990s, including Industrias Venoco (1990–2000).[3] Carmona became president of the Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce (Fedecámaras), Venezuela's largest business owners' association.
On April 11, 2002, after Chávez's supporters and opponents were fired on by snipers, Lucas Rincón, commander-in-chief of the Venezuelan armed forces, announced in a broadcast to a nationwide audience that Chávez had tendered his resignation from the presidency.[4] While Chávez was brought to a military base and held there, military leaders appointed Carmona as the transitional President of Venezuela, following mass protests and a general strike by his opponents.[5]
In the face of crowds of Chávez supporters taking to the streets and under pressure from some quarters of the military,[6] Chávez was restored to office.
During Carmona's 36-hour government, military officers held Chávez and attempted to force his exile. Additionally, security forces conducted raids without warrants and took some Chávez supporters into custody illegally, including National Assembly deputy Tarek William Saab, a member of the Chávez-aligned MVR, who was taken into protective custody by security forces after a large crowd had gathered around his home, threatening him and his family. He was held incommunicado for several hours.[7]
After the coup Carmona was placed under house arrest, but was able to gain asylum in the Colombian embassy after an anti-Chávez protest drew away his security detail.[8]
According to some sources, "Colin Powell held at least one meeting with the exiled Carmona in Bogota in December of 2002", during the Venezuelan general strike of 2002-2003.[9][10]