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José María Lemus

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(Redirected from José María Lemus López) President of El Salvador from 1956 to 1960
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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Lemus and the second or maternal family name is López.
Lieutenant ColonelJosé María Lemus
30th President of El Salvador
In office
14 September 1956 – 26 October 1960
Vice PresidentHumberto Costa
Preceded byÓscar Osorio
Succeeded byJunta of Government
Eusebio Cordón Cea as President
Personal details
Born22 July 1911
La Unión, El Salvador
Died31 March 1993(1993-03-31) (aged 81)
San José, Costa Rica
Political partyRevolutionary Party of Democratic Unification
SpouseCoralia Párraga de Lemus
Children7
OccupationPolitician, military
Military service
Allegiance El Salvador
Branch/serviceSalvadoran Army
Years of service1933–1960
RankLieutenant Colonel Lieutenant Colonel

Lieutenant Colonel José María Lemus López (22 July 1911 – 31 March 1993) was president of El Salvador from 14 September 1956 to 26 October 1960. Before becoming a president, he served as an undersecretary of defense and a minister of the interior.

Life and career

He was born into a family of humble beginnings in La Unión, El Salvador. He was undersecretary of defense from 1948-1949. As President Óscar Osorio's choice for the successor to presidency, he antagonized many by fighting against corruption. Having won the disputed election of 1956, he appointed prominent civilians into his government and allowed many exiles to return the country.

He was a member of the Party of Democratic Unification. He continued socio-economic reforms of his predecessor, but there was no improvement in the living standards of the working class. He promulgated the Tenant Law, which protects the rights of the renters of houses or "Mesones, called also Vecindades" (apartment units with shared bathrooms). The law stipulating that landlords cannot increase the rent more than 10% every year made rent contract in houses obligatory with the objective of protecting the renter.

His government repealed the anti-sedition laws, therefore antagonizing the military. His government's decision to control the production of coffee infuriated the public. Soon after the Cuban revolution, there were widespread student protests. There was a subsequent roundup of dissidents and protesters.

Overthrow and death

Main article: 1960 Salvadoran coup d'état

Following these uncertainties, he was overthrown in a bloodless coup and a new, short-lived Junta government was formed consisting of three military (Miguel Ángel Castillo, César Yanes Urías, Rubén Alonso Rosales) and three civilian (Ricardo Falla Cáceres, Fabio Castillo Figueroa, Rene Fortín Magaña).

After his exile, he lived in New York City until his death in San Jose, Costa Rica. He died of Hodgkin's lymphoma, leaving behind a wife and eight children.

References

  1. "Lemus, José María (1911–1993) | Encyclopedia.com".
  2. "Lemus, José María (1911–1993) | Encyclopedia.com".
  3. "El Salvador - Military dictatorships".
  4. "Lemus, José María (1911–1993) | Encyclopedia.com".
Political offices
Preceded byÓscar Osorio President of El Salvador
1956–1960 		Succeeded byMilitary Junta
Heads of state of El Salvador
Post-independence (1821–1823) Seal of the President of El Salvador
Federal Republic of Central America (1823–1841)
Republic of El Salvador (1841–1931)
Military presidents (1931–1979)
Salvadoran Civil War (1979–1992)
Post-Civil War (since 1992)
  • – Acting or provisional president
  • – Military junta
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