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Juan Velasco Alvarado
Photo: Unknown author Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl, via Wikimedia Commons13

Juan Velasco Alvarado

President of Peru from 1968 to 1975

Juan Francisco Velasco Alvarado (June 16, 1910 – December 24, 1977) was a Peruvian general and politician who was the military leader of Peru from 1968 to 1975 after a successful coup d'état against Fernando Belaúnde's presidency. Under his government, nationalism, as well as some left-wing economic policies specifically concerning Peru's indigenous population, such as nationalization or agrarian reform were adopted.2

From Wikipedia’s article on Juan Velasco Alvarado (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Jun 16, 1910, died Dec 24, 1977.1

About

These policies were reversed after another coup d'état in 1975 led by his Prime Minister, Francisco Morales Bermúdez.

Velasco had a confrontational foreign policy towards the United States, as he pushed for renegotiation of treaties and criticized what he perceived as a pernicious dependence of Latin American states on the United States and strengthened relations with the Soviet Union. His foreign policy has been described as "third way." His reign was also described by Western analysts as "fascistic", "corporatist" or populist. The government denied to be fascistic however. Ideologically, he identified himself with socialism; once proclaiming that his government would be “a revolutionary government that is neither capitalist nor communist but authentically Peruvian—humanist, freedom loving, socialist and Christian.” Additionally, Velasco advocated what he called “ a social democracy of full participation.”

From Wikipedia’s article on Juan Velasco Alvarado, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2

Companies

Early life and education

  • 1923 to 1927Colegio San Miguel de Piura secondary education3
  • 1929 to 1934Chorrillos Military School3
  • Date not recordedWestern Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation3

Juan Velasco was born in Castilla, a city near Piura on Peru's north coast. He was the son of Manuel José Velasco, a medical assistant, and Clara Luz Alvarado, who had 11 children. Velasco described his youth as one of "dignified poverty, working as a shoeshine boy in Piura."

In 1929, he stowed away on a ship to Lima, Peru, falsified his age, and tried to enlist as an officer in the Peruvian Army. However, he arrived late to the exam, so he joined as a private on April 5, 1929. A year later, he took a competitive exam for entrance into the Escuela Militar de Chorrillos, and got the highest score of all applicants. In 1934, he graduated with high honors and at the head of his class.

He married Consuelo Gonzales Posada in 1940, with whom he had several children.

From Wikipedia’s article on Juan Velasco Alvarado (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Career

Occupation: politician, military officer.6

  • 1968 to 1975President of Peru5
  • 1967 to 1968General Commander of the Peruvian Army5
  • Date not recordedFounded Petroperú4

Personal life

  • BornJun 16, 1910, Castilla District7
  • DiedDec 24, 1977, Lima8
  • CitizenshipPeru9
  • SpouseConsuelo Gonzales Posada10

Awards

  • Date not recordedOrder of Bernardo O'Higgins11
  • Date not recordedOrder of Isabella the Catholic‎11
  • Date not recordedOrder of the Condor of the Andes11
  • Date not recordedOrder of the Liberator General San Martín11
  • Date not recordedOrder of the Liberator11
  • Date not recordedStar of the Socialist Republic of Romania11

Sources

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