Background
Rafael Franco was born in Asunción, on 22 October 1897.
government official politician president
Rafael Franco was born in Asunción, on 22 October 1897.
He first came to national attention in 1928 when he led an attack on a Bolivian fort in the Chaco. When the Chaco War broke out in 1932, Franco, removed from the army for his 1928 action, was reinstated as a colonel.
At the conclusion of the war, Franco became involved in plans to overthrow the Liberal Party government then in power. He was sent into exile, but on February 17, 1936, President Eusebio Ayala was overthrown, and Colonel Franco returned home as head of the new government, which represented a very wide range of outlooks.
Despite all his achievements, the government was overthrown in a coup in August 1937. Once again Franco went into exile.
Rafael Franco continued to command the loyalty of substantial numbers of workers, students, and others. In October 1945 they formally organized the Concentración Revolucionaria Febrerista. Theye were invited to take part in the coalition government formed by President Higinio Morinigo in 1946, and after bitter debate, the party’s leaders agreed. As a consequence, Franco returned to Asunción in August 1946.
Colonel Franco urged a policy of moderation, and the Febreristas began preparing for promised elections. However, the Guión Rojo, a group of shock troops under Juan Natalicio González, leader of the radical wing of the Colorado Party, attacked Febreristas student and labor supporters.
In January 1947 the Febrerista party demanded that the coalition government be replaced by an all-military cabinet to handle the growing violence and unrest. Morinigo replied by dissolving the cabinet, declaring a state of siege, exiling leading Febreristas, including Colonel Franco, and precipitating the 1947 civil war.
Colonel Franco returned to Paraguay to take charge of rebel troops. In the siege of Asunción, August 3-August 19, Franco’s troops were defeated, and he and his followers again fled abroad.
Following the civil war, most of Franco’s political activities took place in exile. An effort to return to Paraguay in 1956 was foiled by the government. In the early 1960s Franco brought about the expulsion of groups of party members inspired by Fidel Castro and alleged Communist supporters.
In 1964 Alfredo Stroessner granted the Franco faction legal recognition, and Franco once again returned from exile. Once home he greatly reduced his political activity and tried to avoid factionalism. The weakness of his party was demonstrated by its extremely poor showing in the 1967 election. The party was still divided between a radical youth group and a much more moderate leadership headed by Franco. The death of Franco removed the only unifying symbol left to the Febreristas.
Despite internal differences, the Franco government inaugurated serious reforms during its brief stay in office: land reform which expropriated some large latifundios and distributed the land to peasants on easy terms; and new labor laws giving workers the right to unionize and strike and providing social benefits.
He gained a reputation as a capable commander and as a leader who treated his soldiers well.
