Tomás Monje

Tomás Monje
President of Bolivia
In office
15 August 1946  10 March 1947
Preceded by Néstor Guillén
Succeeded by Enrique Hertzog
Personal details
Born Tomás Monje Gutierréz
21 December 1884
Coroico, La Paz Department, Bolivia
Died 15 July 1954 (aged 69)
La Paz, Bolivia
Nationality Bolivian
Profession Politician, lawyer

Tomás Monje Gutierréz (21 December 1884 15 July 1954) was President of Bolivia between August 1946 and March 1947.

Background and earlier career

Born in Coroico, department of La Paz, he was a noted intellectual and judge.

President of Bolivia

In his capacity as head of the La Paz Court of Appeals, he was named President by the forces that toppled President Gualberto Villarroel via coup d'état on July 21, 1946. Monje happened to be ill at the time, however, which is why his deputy, Néstor Guillén, filled in for him for 27 days, until Monje was well enough to be sworn in August of the same year. Very much a caretaker president, Monje Gutiérrez was charged with the simple task of calling elections as soon as possible. This done, he transferred power to the winner of the January 1947 electoral contest, the conservative Enrique Hertzog.

Post-Presidency and death

At that point Monje returned to relative obscurity, dying in La Paz on July 25, 1954.

Sources

Political offices
Preceded by
Néstor Guillén
President of Bolivia
19461947
Succeeded by
Enrique Hertzog