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The Role of the Paraguayan Catholic Church in the Downfall of the Stroessner Regime

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Miguel Carter
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Extract

The Coup d'Etat that overthrew General Alfredo Stroessner on the second night of February 1989 signaled the beginning of a new era for Paraguayan politics and the close of another chapter of Latin American caudillismo. He was replaced by General Andrés Rodríguez, Paraguay's second most powerful figure, in what was, in effect, a “palace coup.” General Rodríguez startled the nation by issuing a proclamation that called for (a) democratization of Paraguay, (b) full respect for human rights, and (c) restoration of the badly damaged relations with the Catholic Church. The proclamation ushered in a series of events which amazed the populace even more: opposition leaders — once banned and exiled by the Stroessner regime — were embraced and greeted by longtime adversaries; dozens of prominent exiled figures returned to find an enthusiastic atmosphere; political prisoners were freed; while corruption and torture became the subject of national debate as people sought both to uncover, and to bury, the legacy of the Stroessner years.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs , Volume 32 , Issue 4 , Winter 1990 , pp. 67 - 122
Copyright
Copyright © University of Miami 1990

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