Rafael Caldera | |
---|---|
President of Venezuela | |
In office 2 February 1994 – 2 February 1999 | |
Preceded by | Ramón José Velásquez |
Succeeded by | Hugo Chávez |
In office 11 March 1969 – 12 March 1974 | |
Preceded by | Raúl Leoni |
Succeeded by | Carlos Andrés Pérez |
Senator for Life | |
In office 12 March 1974 – 2 February 1994 | |
In office 2 February 1999 – 20 December 1999 | |
President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Congress of Venezuela | |
In office 1959–1962 | |
Solicitor General of Venezuela | |
In office 26 October 1945 – 13 April 1946 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Rafael Antonio Caldrea Rodríguez 24 January 1916 San Felipe, Yaracuy, Venezuela |
Died | 24 December 2009 Caracas, Venezuela | (aged 93)
Political party | COPEI (1946–1993) National Convergence (1993–2009) |
Spouse(s) | Alicia Pietri Montemayor |
Alma mater | Central University of Venezuela |
Occupation | Lawyer |
Signature | |
Website | Official website |
Rafael Antonio Caldera Rodríguez (Spanish pronunciation: [rafaˈel anˈtonjo kalˈdeɾa roˈðɾiɣes]; 24 January 1916 – 24 December 2009),[1] twice elected President of Venezuela, served for two five-year terms (1969–1974 and 1994–1999), becoming the longest serving democratically elected leader to govern the country in the twentieth century.[2]
Widely acknowledged as one of the founders of Venezuela’s democratic system,[3] the main architect of the 1961 Constitution, and a pioneer of the Christian Democratic movement in Latin America, Caldera helped forge an unprecedented period of civilian democratic rule in a country beleaguered by a history of political violence and military caudillos.[4]
His leadership established Venezuela’s reputation as one of the more stable democracies in Latin America during the second half of the twentieth century.[5]
After graduating with a degree in law and political science from Central University of Venezuela in 1939, Caldera embarked on a 70-year long career that combined political, intellectual and academic activities.