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Cabinet of Germán Busch

Germán Busch assumed office as the 36th President of Bolivia on 13 July 1937, and his term was cut short by his death on 23 August 1939. A young military officer during the Chaco War, Busch attempted to champion the cause of Military Socialism brought forth by his predecessor David Toro but, unhappy with the results produced by his few reforms, opted to declare himself dictator in April 1939 before committing suicide four months later.

Busch cabinet

98th–100th Cabinet of the Republic of Bolivia
1937–1939
Germán Busch
Date formed13 July 1937 (1937-07-13)
Date dissolved23 August 1939 (1939-08-23)
People and organisations
PresidentGermán Busch
Vice PresidentVacant (1937–1938)
Enrique Baldivieso (1938–1939)
Vacant
No. of ministers11 (on 23 August 1939)
Total no. of members25 (including former members)
Member partiesUnited Socialist Party (PSU)
Socialist Republican Party (PRS)
Status in legislatureMajority government
History
Legislature term1938–1939
PredecessorCabinet of David Toro
SuccessorCabinet of Carlos Quintanilla (interim)

Busch formed three cabinets during his 25-month presidency, constituting the 98th to 100th national cabinets of Bolivia as part of the 1936–1938 Government Junta.[1][2]

Cabinet Ministers

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Cabinet of Bolivia
Presidency of Germán Busch, 1937–1939
Office Minister Party Prof. Term Days N.C[a] P.C[b]
President Germán Busch Mil-Soc. Mil. 13 July 1937 – 23 August 1939 771 – –
Vice President Office vacant 13 July 1937 – 28 May 1938
Enrique Baldivieso PSU Law. 28 May 1938 – 24 April 1939 331
Office vacant 24 April 1939 – 23 August 1939
Secretary-General of the Junta Gabriel Gosálvez PSU Eco. 13 July 1937 – 12 August 1938 395 98 1
Office discontinued from 12 August 1938
Minister of Foreign Affairs
and Worship
(Chancellor) 		Minister of
Propaganda 		Enrique Baldivieso[3] PSU Law. 13 July 1937 – 14 December 1937 154 98 1
Eduardo Díez de Medina – Law. 14 December 1937 – 23 August 1939 617 99 2
– 100 3
Minister of Government
and Justice 		– Félix Tabera Mil-Soc. Mil. 13 July 1937 – 19 July 1937 6 98 1
César B. Menacho Mil-Soc. Mil. 19 July 1937 – 12 August 1938 389
99 2
Minister of
Propaganda 		Gabriel Gosálvez[c] PSU Eco. 12 August 1938 – 18 March 1939 218 100 3
Vicente Leyton – Law. 18 March 1939 – 15 April 1940 394 3[d]
Minister of National Defense Secundino Olmos Mil-Soc. Mil. 13 July 1937 – 12 August 1938 395 98 1
99 2
Felipe Manuel Rivera Mil-Soc. Mil. 12 August 1938 – 23 August 1939 376 100 3
Minister of Finance
and Statistics 		Federico Gutiérrez Granier PL – 13 July 1937 – 23 November 1937 133 98 1
Eduardo Belmont Baldivia – Law. 23 November 1937 – 12 August 1938 262 99 2
Vicente Mendoza López Ind. Eco. 12 August 1938 – 31 March 1939 231 100 3
Santiago Schulze Arana – Eco. 31 March 1939 – 23 August 1939 145
Minister of Industry
and Commerce 		Angel Ayoroa Mil-Soc. Mil. 13 July 1937 – 23 November 1937 133 98 1
Alfredo Peñaranda Mil-Soc. Mil. 23 November 1937 – 12 August 1938 262 99 2
Vicente Leyton – Law. 12 August 1938 – 18 March 1939 218 100 3
Luis Herrero – – 18 March 1939 – 23 August 1939 158
Minister of Development Minister of
Communications 		Luis Campero Mil-Soc. Mil. 13 July 1937 – 12 August 1938 395 98 1
99 2
Minister of Public Works Walter Méndez Mil-Soc. Mil. 12 August 1938 – 23 August 1939 376 100 3
Minister of Mining
and Petrol 		Felipe Manuel Rivera Mil-Soc. Mil. 13 July 1937 – 12 August 1938 395 98 1
99 2
Dionisio Foianini[e] – Bus. 12 August 1938 – 23 August 1939 376 100 3
Minister of Work
and Social Security 		– Daniel Sossa Mil-Soc. Mil. 13 July 1937 – 12 August 1938 395 98 1
99 2
Minister of
Sanitation 		Alberto Zelada Mil-Soc. Mil. 12 August 1938 – 20 March 1939 220 100 3
Roberto Jordán Cuéllar PSU – 20 March 1939 – 23 August 1939 156
Minister of Health and Hygiene Office blank 13 July 1937 – 22 August 1938
Alfredo Mollinedo PSU Dr. 22 August 1938 – 15 April 1940 602 100 3[d]
Minister of Education
and Indigenous Affairs 		Alfredo Peñaranda Mil-Soc. Mil. 12 October 1936 – 23 November 1937 133 97[f] 1[g]
Héctor Ormachea Zalles – Law. 23 November 1937 – 12 August 1938 262 99 2
Bernardo Navajas Trigo PL Law. 12 August 1938 – 15 April 1940 977 100 3[d]
Minister of Agriculture,
Colonization, and
Immigration 		César B. Menacho Mil-Soc. Mil. 13 July 1937 – 19 July 1937 6 98 1
Walter Méndez Mil-Soc. Mil. 19 July 1937 – 12 August 1938 389
99 2
Julio Salmón[h] PL Law. 12 August 1938 – 23 August 1939 376 100 3

Composition

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First cabinet

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Germán Busch with various cabinet members and collaborators including Víctor Paz Estenssoro, Wálter Guevara, and Fernando Pou Mont

Having secured the resignation of President David Toro on 13 July 1937, Germán Busch entered the Palacio Quemado and established his first cabinet. The government was a mixture of leftist military officers and members of the United Socialist Party (PSU) which had collaborated with the Toro regime.[7]

The Council of Ministers formed by Germán Busch indicated a continued struggle his regime faced in pinpointing a clear ideology.[8] Politically, Busch appointed ministers generally in line with the moderate socialism of Toro, choosing the head of the PSU Enrique Baldivieso as foreign minister and the moderate socialist Gabriel Gosálvez as secretary-general. However, at the same time, he appointed such figures as the right-wing Federico Gutiérrez Granier in the crucial office of Minister of Finance, a position the Liberal politician would use to undo many of the consumer goods subsidies of the Toro regime. Minister of Agriculture Julio Salmón and Minister of Education Bernardo Navajas Trigo were also Liberals.

Second cabinet

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The cabinet was renewed on 23 November 1937. Three ministerial positions were changed: Federico Gutiérrez Granier with Eduardo Belmont Baldivia as Minister of Finance, Angel Ayoroa with Alfredo Peñaranda as Minister of Industry, with Peñaranda's former position as Minister of Education being filled by Héctor Ormachea Zalles. The following month on 14 December, Foreign Minister Enrique Baldivieso was exchanged with Eduardo Díez de Medina who had served in the position once before.[9]

During this period starting on 23 May, the National Convention of 1938 would be held and charged with rewriting the constitution.[10] On 27 May, the National Convention would proclaim Busch constitutional president with Enrique Baldivieso as vice president.[11]

Third cabinet

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Busch's third cabinet was formed on 12 August 1938.[12] Gabriel Gosálvez would be appointed Minister of Government and Justice as well as Propaganda which had previously been under the purview of the Foreign Ministry. No Secretary-General was appointed to replace him. Multiple health related ministries would be established as part of this cabinet. Upon the formation of the cabinet on 12 August, the new Minister of Labor Alberto Zelada would also be appointed to the position of Minister of Sanitation. Ten days later on 22 August, a dedicated Ministry of Health and Hygiene would be established with Alfredo Mollinedo appointed to head the position.[13]

On 30 October, the National Convention would promulgate the new constitution.[14] While the constitution would remain in effect until 1945, Busch would dismiss the national assembly on 24 April 1939 and declare himself dictator.[15] Busch's presidency would come to an end four months later when he committed suicide. General Carlos Quintanilla would take hold of the presidency in the interim period and the majority of the Busch cabinet, save for Alfredo Mollinedo, Bernardo Navjas Trigo, Vicente Leyton, and Felipe Manuel Rivera, would be dismissed.

Established Ministries

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  • Office of Sanitation (under Work and Social Security): Alberto Zelada, first holder from 12 August 1938[12]
  • Ministry of Health and Hygiene: Alfredo Mollinedo (PSU), first holder from 22 August 1938[13]
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Notes

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  1. ^ Denoting which national cabinet the minister was originally a part of.
  2. ^ Denoting which presidential cabinet the minister was originally a part of.
  3. ^ Acting Foreign Minister in the absence of Enrique Baldivieso from 13 July to 25 July 1937 and in the absence of Eduardo Díez de Medina from 30 November to 30 December 1938.[4]
  4. ^ a b c Held over into the Quintanilla cabinet.
  5. ^ Acting Foreign Minister in the absence of Eduardo Díez de Medina from 22 May to 19 July 1939.[5]
  6. ^ Originally a member of the 97th national cabinet of Bolivia.
  7. ^ Originally a member of the Toro ministerial cabinet.
  8. ^ Acting Foreign Minister in the absence of Eduardo Díez de Medina from 3 June to 20 June 1938.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Gisbert 2003, pp. 342–344
  2. ^ "DECRETO SUPREMO No 19-07-1937 del 19 de Julio de 1937 » Derechoteca.com". www.derechoteca.com. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  3. ^ "canciller". archive.vn. 19 February 2013. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  4. ^ "canciller". archive.vn. 19 February 2013. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  5. ^ "canciller". archive.vn. 19 February 2013. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  6. ^ "canciller". archive.vn. 19 February 2013. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  7. ^ Political handbook of the world 1940. New York, 1940. P. 12.
  8. ^ Klein, Herbert S. (May 1967). "Germán Busch and the Era of "Military Socialism" in Bolivia". The Hispanic American Historical Review. XLVII (2): 166–184. doi:10.1215/00182168-47.2.166.
  9. ^ "DECRETO 14-12-1937 del 14 de Diciembre de 1937 – 1 » Derechoteca.com". www.derechoteca.com. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  10. ^ Rossana Barragán, "Ciudadanía y elecciones, convenciones y debates" in Barragán R., Rossana; José Luis Roca (2005). Regiones y poder constituyente en Bolivia : una historia de pactos y disputas. Cuaderno de futuro, 21. La Paz, Bolivia: PNUD. p. 336. ISBN 978-99905-0-960-1.
  11. ^ "Bolivia: Ley de 27 de mayo de 1938". www.lexivox.org. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  12. ^ a b "DECRETO SUPREMO No 12-08-1938 del 12 de Agosto de 1938 » Derechoteca.com". www.derechoteca.com. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  13. ^ a b "DECRETO SUPREMO del 22 de Agosto de 1938 – 1 » Derechoteca.com". www.derechoteca.com. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Bolivia: Constitución política de 1938, 30 de octubre de 1938". www.lexivox.org. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  15. ^ "DECRETO SUPREMO del 24 de Abril de 1939 – 1 » Derechoteca.com". www.derechoteca.com. Retrieved 26 January 2021.

Bibliography

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