Eleazar López Contreras: una transición pacífica

Upon the death of Juan Vicente Gómez on December 17, 1935, after 27 years in power, General Eleazar López Contreras assumed the presidency to complete his term. The successor held the position of Minister of War and Navy and had been a consistent collaborator of the Gómez regime since its inception: a man of the regime. There were riots and looting of symbols of repression and Gómez's power; society mobilized and organized to demand the liberalization of political practices and the transition to democracy; there were also those who aspired to the continuity of the political forms of the past. The atmosphere was one of enormous tension, polarization, and uncertainty. On February 14, 1936, a peaceful demonstration in Plaza Bolívar was violently repressed. The people remained in the streets, and López met with the demonstrators. The president's message was one of calm and prudence; the transition process should be gradual and without upheaval. The February program presented to the country defines the priorities and charts the course for Venezuela's modernization. A complex process begins, with its ups and downs, which allows for the dismantling of the political practices of the Gómez regime and paves the way for new forms of participation and organization within society. An episode in our history that demonstrates the political will of its protagonists to reach agreements that would guarantee peace and pave the way for the establishment of democracy among us. For more information, we invite you to consult the Dictionary of Venezuelan History from the Empresas Polar Foundation at the following links: https://bibliofep.fundacionempresaspo... https://bibliofep.fundacionempresaspo... https://bibliofep.fundacionempresaspo... — This episode is presented by: Phoinike: https://phoinike.com / @phoinike_global Fundación Empresas Polar: https://fundacionempresaspolar.org / @empresaspolar