Francisco Morales Bermúdez

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2nd President of the Revolutionary Government
Francisco Morales Bermúdez

In office August 29, 1975 – July 28, 1980
Preceded by	Juan Velasco Alvarado
Succeeded by	Fernando Belaúnde Terry

Born	1921 Lima, Peru
Political party	None - (Peruvian Army)
Profession	Army General

Francisco Morales Bermúdez Cerruti (b. 1921) was a centrist Peruvian general who came to power in Peru 1975 after deposing his predecessor, General Juan Velasco Alvarado. Unable to control the political and economic troubles that the nation faced, he was forced to return power to civilian rule, marking the end of the Revolutionary Government of the Armed Forces, that installed itself by a coup d'etat in October 1968.

[edit] Early years

Born in Lima in 1921, he was the son of Army Colonel Remigio Morales Bermúdez and grandson of ex-President Remigio Morales Bermúdez. He received most of his education at Lima's Colegio Inmaculada. In 1939, he was accepted to the Escuela Militar de Chorrillos (Chorrillos Military School). After his graduation, he was an important member of the CAEM (Centro de Altos Estudios Militares).

[edit] Political career

He achieved the rank of Brigadier General and was appointed to his first political post in 1968 as minister of finance in the administration of Fernando Belaúnde Terry. Internal problems in government forced him to resign after two months.

In 1968, after Belaúnde had been deposed by a coup, the military government led by Velasco asked him to return to the post of Minister of Finance. In 1974, he resigned again, this time because he was appointed leader of the Peruvian Armed Forces. In 1975, he was appointed to be both Prime Minister and Minister of Defense.

With Velasco Alvarado's health deteriorating, Morales Bermúdez took over as President of Peru in 1975, leading the country through one of its most severe economic crises. He diverged from the socialist-leaning tendencies of first phase (1968-1975) of the Peruvian Revolution, proclaiming a 'Second Phase' that would lead to a return to democracy.

[edit] Legacy

The failure of his political and economic reforms was a severe blow to his administration, hampered by constant political pressure from all sides. A Constitutional Assembly was created in 1978, which modified the 1933 Constitution enacted during Oscar R. Benavides's presidency; he also called for national elections the next year.

After the 1980 National Elections he turned power over to a legally established government, headed by President Fernando Belaúnde Terry.

After his presidency, he kept a relatively low profile in Peruvian politics, making sporadic speeches regarding the situation of the army.

In 1985, he made an unsuccessful run for the presidency, obtaining a fraction of one percent of the vote.

Preceded by: Edgardo Mercado Jarrín	Prime Minister of Peru February 1, 1975 – August 30, 1975	Succeeded by: Óscar Vargas Prieto
Preceded by: Gral. Edgardo Mercado Jarrín	Commander-in-Chief of the Army February 1, 1975 – August 30, 1975	Succeeded by: Gral. Óscar Vargas Prieto
Preceded by: Juan Velasco Alvarado	President of the Revolutionary Government August 1975 – July 1980	Succeeded by: Fernando Belaúnde Terry