Francisco Urcuyo
Francisco Urcuyo Maliaños (30 July 1915 – 14 September 2001) was a Nicaraguan politician, who served as Vice President of Anastasio Somoza Debayle from 1967 to 1972, and President of Nicaragua very briefly after Somoza fled the country in 1979.
Francisco Urcuyo Maliaños | |
|---|---|
| Acting President of Nicaragua | |
| In office 17 July 1979 – 18 July 1979 | |
| Vice President | Vacant |
| Preceded by | Anastasio Somoza Debayle |
| Succeeded by | Junta of National Reconstruction |
| Vice President of Nicaragua | |
| In office 1 May 1967 – 1 May 1972 | |
| President | Anastasio Somoza Debayle |
| Preceded by | Silvio Argüello Cardenal and Gustavo Raskosky |
| Succeeded by | Sergio Ramírez (1985) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Francisco Urcuyo Maliaños 30 July 1915 Rivas, Nicaragua |
| Died | 14 September 2001 (aged 86) Managua, Nicaragua |
| Political party | PLN |
| Spouse | Maria Luisa Muñoz |
| Children | Francisco, Bayardo, Roberto and Mario |
| Alma mater | National Autonomous University of Mexico |
| Occupation | Politician |
Urcuyo was the president of the lower chamber of National Congress of Nicaragua 1972–1973 and 1978–1979.
In July 1979, when Somoza resigned, Urcuyo was the president of the lower chamber of National Congress of Nicaragua. In 1979 he was handpicked by Somoza as successor to the presidency. Urcuyo became acting president of Nicaragua for a single day from 17 to 18 July 1979, following the resignation of Somoza on 17 July. Upon taking office, he announced his intention to serve out the remainder of Somoza's term. This announcement provoked a strong reaction from the Sandinistas, other Latin American states, and the Carter Administration in the U.S.
Recognizing the untenability of his situation, Urcuyo fled to Guatemala on 18 July, effectively handing the country over to the Junta of National Reconstruction.