Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas (21 June 1925 – 19 October 2005) was a Bolivian jurist, lawyer, politician, and human rights activist who served as the 49th

president of Bolivia The president of Bolivia (), officially known as the president of the Plurinational State of Bolivia (), is head of state and head of government of Bolivia and the captain general of the Armed Forces of Bolivia. According to the Bolivian C ...

from April to September 1969. He previously served as the 31st

vice president of Bolivia The vice president of Bolivia (), officially known as the vice president of the Plurinational State of Bolivia (), is the second highest political position in Bolivia. The vice president replaces the president in his definitive absence or others ...

under

René Barrientos René Emilio Barrientos Ortuño (30 May 1919 – 27 April 1969) was a Bolivian military officer and politician who served as the 47th president of Bolivia from 1964 to 1966 and 1966 to 1969. During his first term, he shared power with Alfred ...

from 1966 to 1969.

Background and early life

Born in

La Paz La Paz, officially Nuestra Señora de La Paz (Aymara language, Aymara: Chuqi Yapu ), is the seat of government of the Bolivia, Plurinational State of Bolivia. With 755,732 residents as of 2024, La Paz is the List of Bolivian cities by populati ...

, Luis Adolfo Siles was the son of former president Hernando Siles Reyes (1926–1930) and half-brother of another Bolivian politician and two-time president,

Hernán Siles Zuazo Hernán Siles Zuazo (21 March 1914 – 6 August 1996) was a Bolivian politician who served as the 46th president of Bolivia twice nonconsecutively from 1956 to 1960 and from 1982 to 1985. He also briefly served as interim president in April 1952 ...

(1956–1960 and 1982–1985). Educated as a lawyer in his native country, he also obtained a doctorate in Spain. Siles eventually joined the small Partido Demócrata Cristiano (Christian-Democrat Party), which supported

in the 1966 elections. Eisenhower Fellowships selected Luis Adolfo Siles in 1955 to represent Bolivia.

Vice President of Bolivia

In fact, Siles ran as General Barrientos' vice-presidential running mate, and was sworn in in that capacity after their ticket prevailed at the polls.Vicepresidency of Bolivia

President of Bolivia

Siles became president when Barrientos was killed in a helicopter crash near Arque,

Cochabamba Cochabamba (; ) is a city and municipality in central Bolivia in a valley in the Andes mountain range. It is the capital (political), capital of the Cochabamba Department and the list of cities in Bolivia, fourth largest city in Bolivia, with ...

, on 27 April 1969. The Siles presidency was short and marred by disagreements with the powerful Commander of the Armed Forces, General

Alfredo Ovando Alfredo Ovando Candia (6 April 1918 – 24 January 1982) was a Bolivian military officer and political leader who served as the 48th president of Bolivia from 1965 to 1966 and 1969 to 1970. During his first term, he shared power with René Bar ...

. The latter harbored ambitions to become president in 1970, when he was projected to run as Barrientos' successor. But Ovando's disagreements with Barrientos on a number of important issues during the 1967–69 period had displeased many die-hard Barrientos followers, including Vice-president Siles. For these reasons, in addition to resentment over the constant meddling by Ovando, Siles seemed to be throwing his support behind the surprise candidacy of the Mayor of La Paz, Armando Escobar Uría, as the true heir and successor to Barrientos (Bolivian laws did not allow direct re-election of a sitting president). This threatened to spoil General Ovando's carefully laid plans.

Overthrown by a coup d'état

In the end General Ovando decided not to wait for the elections and instead launched a ''

coup d'état A coup d'état (; ; ), or simply a coup , is typically an illegal and overt attempt by a military organization or other government elites to unseat an incumbent leadership. A self-coup is said to take place when a leader, having come to powe ...

'' on 26 September 1969, overthrowing Siles and with him, what was left of Bolivian democracy (or its appearances, in any case).

Later years

Returning to Bolivia during the dictatorship of Hugo Banzer (1971–78), Siles played a prominent role as a defender of human rights. He ran for president in 1980, but failed to garner much support. Despite leading a relatively small party, Siles vociferously opposed the 1980-81 dictatorship of Luis García Meza.

Death

Respected for his steadfast stance in defense of democratic principles, Siles died on 19 October 2005 in

Electoral history

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Siles, Luis Adolfo 1925 births 2005 deaths 20th-century Bolivian politicians Candidates in the 1980 Bolivian presidential election Children of presidents of Bolivia Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit Grand Crosses of the Order of the Sun of Peru Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic Leaders ousted by a coup Politicians from La Paz Presidents of Bolivia Siles family University of Saint Francis Xavier alumni Vice presidents of Bolivia