Anastasio Somoza Debayle
Anastasio "Tachito" Somoza Debayle (Spanish: [anasˈtasjo soˈmosa ðeˈβajle]; 5 December 1925 – 17 September 1980) was the 53rd President of Nicaragua from 1 May 1967 to 1 May 1972 and from 1 December 1974 to 17 July 1979. As head of the National Guard, he was de facto ruler of the country between 1967 and 1979, even during the period when he was not the de jure ruler.
Anastasio Somoza Debayle | |
|---|---|
Somoza in July 1968 | |
| 53rd President of Nicaragua | |
| In office 1 December 1974 – 17 July 1979 | |
| Vice President | Vacant |
| Preceded by | Liberal-Conservative Junta |
| Succeeded by | Francisco Urcuyo (Acting) |
| In office 1 May 1967 – 1 May 1972 | |
| Vice President | Francisco Urcuyo Alfonso Callejas Deshón |
| Preceded by | Lorenzo Guerrero |
| Succeeded by | Liberal-Conservative Junta |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 December 1925 León, Nicaragua |
| Died | 17 September 1980 (aged 54) Asunción, Paraguay |
| Manner of death | Assassination |
| Resting place | Caballero Rivero Woodlawn Park North Cemetery and Mausoleum |
| Political party | Nationalist Liberal Party (PLN) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Anastasio Somoza Portocarrero, Julio Somoza Portocarrero, Carolina Somoza Portocarrero, Carla Somoza Portocarrero, Roberto Somoza Portocarrero |
| Parents |
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Nicaragua |
| Branch/service | National Guard |
| Years of service | 1946–1979 |
| Battles/wars | Nicaraguan Revolution |
Somoza Debayle succeeded his older brother, Luis Somoza Debayle, in office. He was the last member of the Somoza family to be president, ending a dynasty that had been in power since 1937. After insurgents led by the Sandinista National Liberation Front (Spanish: Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional; FSLN) were closing in on Managua in July 1979, Somoza fled Nicaragua. Power was ceded to the Junta of National Reconstruction. He was assassinated in 1980 while in exile in Paraguay.