Government of Germán Busch, 1937–39

Germán Busch assumed office as the 36th President of Bolivia on 13 July 1937, and his term was cut short by his suicide 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.

Presidency of Germán Busch
13 July 1937 – 23 August 1939
PartyMilitary Socialist
SeatPalacio Quemado
Bolivia
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Busch formed three cabinets throughout his presidency, constituting the 98th to 100th national cabinets of Bolivia.[1][2]

Cabinet Ministers

Cabinet of Bolivia
Presidency of Germán Busch, 1937–1939
Office Name Party Term Prof. N.C[lower-alpha 1] P.C[lower-alpha 2]
President Germán Busch Mil-Soc. 13 July 1937 – 23 August 1939 Mil. – –
Vice President Office vacant 13 July 1937 – 28 May 1938
Enrique Baldivieso PSU 28 May 1938 – 24 April 1939 Law.
Office vacant 24 April 1939 – 23 August 1939
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Worship, and Propaganda
(Chancellor)		 Enrique Baldivieso PSU 13 July 1937 – 14 December 1937 Law. 98 1
Eduardo Díez de Medina N/A 14 December 1937 – 23 August 1939 Law. 99 2
Minister of Government
and Justice		 – Félix Tabera Mil-Soc. 13 July 1937 – 19 July 1937 Mil. 98 1
César B. Menacho Mil-Soc. 19 July 1937 – 12 August 1938 Mil. 98 1
Minister of Propaganda Gabriel Gosálvez[lower-alpha 3] PSU 12 August 1938 – 18 March 1939 Eco. 100 3
Vicente Leyton N/A 18 March 1939 – 15 April 1940 Law. 100 3[lower-alpha 4]
Minister of National Defense Secundino Olmos Mil-Soc. 13 July 1937 – 12 August 1938 Mil. 98 1
Felipe Manuel Rivera Mil-Soc. 12 August 1938 – 23 August 1939 Mil. 100 3
Minister of Finance
and Statistics		 Federico Gutiérrez Granier N/A 13 July 1937 – 23 November 1937 – 98 1
Eduardo Belmont Baldivia N/A 23 November 1937 – 12 August 1938 Law. 99 2
Vicente Mendoza López Ind. 12 August 1938 – 31 March 1939 Eco. 100 3
Santiago Schulze Arana N/A 31 March 1939 – 23 August 1939 Eco. 100 3
Minister of Industry
and Commerce		 Angel Ayoroa Mil-Soc. 13 July 1937 – 23 November 1937 Mil. 98 1
Alfredo Peñaranda Mil-Soc. 23 November 1937 – 12 August 1938 Mil. 99 2
Vicente Leyton N/A 12 August 1938 – 18 March 1939 Law. 100 3
Luis Herrero N/A 18 March 1939 – 23 August 1939 – 100 3
Minister of Mining
and Petrol		 Felipe Manuel Rivera Mil-Soc. 13 July 1937 – 12 August 1938 Mil. 98 1
Dionisio Foianini[lower-alpha 5] N/A 12 August 1938 – 23 August 1939 – 100 3
Minister of Promotion Minister of Communications Luis Campero Mil-Soc. 13 July 1937 – 12 August 1938 Mil. 97[lower-alpha 6] 1[lower-alpha 7]
Minister of Public Works Walter Méndez Mil-Soc. 12 August 1938 – 23 August 1939 Mil. 100 3
Minister of Education
and Indigenous Affairs		 Alfredo Peñaranda Mil-Soc. 13 July 1937 – 23 November 1937 Mil. 97[lower-alpha 8] 1[lower-alpha 9]
Héctor Ormachea Zalles N/A 23 November 1937 – 12 August 1938 Law. 99 2
Bernardo Navajas Trigo PL 12 August 1938 – 15 April 1940 Law. 100 3[lower-alpha 4]
Minister of Work
and Social Security		 – Daniel Sossa Mil-Soc. 13 July 1937 – 12 August 1938 Mil. 98 1
Minister of Sanitation Alberto Zelada Mil-Soc. 12 August 1938 – 20 March 1939 Law. 100 3
Roberto Jordán Cuéllar PSU 20 March 1939 – 23 August 1939 – 100 3
Minister of Health and Hygiene Office blank 13 July 1937 – 22 August 1938
Alfredo Mollinedo PSU 22 August 1938 – 15 April 1940 Dr. 100 3[lower-alpha 4]
Minister of Agriculture,
Colonization, and
Immigration		 César B. Menacho Mil-Soc. 13 July 1937 – 19 July 1937 Mil. 98 1
Walter Méndez Mil-Soc. 19 July 1937 – 12 August 1938 Mil. 98 1
Julio Salmon[lower-alpha 10] N/A 12 August 1938 – 23 August 1939 Law. 100 3
Secretary General Gabriel Gosálvez PSU 13 July 1937 – 12 August 1938 Eco. 98 1
Office discontinued 13 July 1937

Composition

First cabinet
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.[3] One of the leaders of the PSU, Enrique Baldivieso, was appointed Foreign Minister, a position he had previously held during the Toro administration.[4] The office of Secretary General under Gabriel Gosálvez was created during the formation of this cabinet. Federico Gutiérrez Granier, who was appointed Minister of Finance, was a member of the influential Gutiérrez family of former president José Gutiérrez Guerra.[5]

Second cabinet

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, Chancellor Enrique Baldivieso was exchanged with Eduardo Díez de Medina who had served in the position once before.[6]

During this period starting on 23 May, the National Convention of 1938 would be held and charged with rewriting the constitution.[7] On 27 May, the National Convention would proclaim Busch constitutional president with Enrique Baldivieso as Vice President.[8] Both would be inaugurated the following day.

Third cabinet

Busch's third cabinet was formed on 12 August 1938.[9] 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.[10]

During this period on 30 October, the National Convention would promulgate the new constitution.[11] While the constitution would remain in effect until 1945, Busch would dismiss the national assembly on 24 April 1939 and declare himself dictator.[12] 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 Minister of Health Alfredo Mollinedo and Minister of Government Vicente Leyton, would be dismissed.

  • Enrique Baldivieso – Vice President and Chancellor (PSU)
  • Eduardo Díez de Medina – Chancellor
  • Gabriel Gosálvez – Minister of Government and Secretary General (PSU)
  • Felipe Manuel Rivera – Minister of Defense and Mining
  • Vicente Mendoza López – Minister of Finance
  • Angel Ayoroa – Minister of Industry
  • Dionisio Foianini – Minister of Mining
  • Héctor Ormachea Zalles – Minister of Education
  • Bernardo Navajas Trigo – Minister of Education (PL)
  • Daniel Sossa – Minister of Labor

Notes
  1. Denoting whether the minister was a member of the 108th, 109th, 110th, or 111th national cabinet of Bolivia
  2. Denoting whether the minister was a member of the president's first, second, third, or fourth cabinet
  3. Acting Foreign Minister from 13 July to 25 July 1936 and 30 November to 30 December 1938
  4. Held over into the Quintanilla cabinet
  5. Acting Foreign Minister from 22 May to 19 July 1939
  6. Originally a member of the 97th national cabinet of Bolivia
  7. Originally a member of the Toro ministerial cabinet
  8. Originally a member of the 97th national cabinet of Bolivia
  9. Originally a member of the Toro ministerial cabinet
  10. Acting Foreign Minister from 3 June to 20 June 1938

References
  1. Gisbert, Carlos D. Mesa (2003). Presidentes de Bolivia: entre urnas y fusiles : el poder ejecutivo, los ministros de estado (in Spanish). Editorial Gisbert. 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. Political handbook of the world 1940. New York, 1940. P. 12.
  4. Political handbook of the world 1939. New York, 1939. P. 16.
  5. "Genealogía Boliviana Genealogía de "Los Gutiérrez"". boliviagen.com. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  6. "DECRETO 14-12-1937 del 14 de Diciembre de 1937 – 1 » Derechoteca.com". www.derechoteca.com. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  7. 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.
  8. "Bolivia: Ley de 27 de mayo de 1938". www.lexivox.org. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  9. "DECRETO SUPREMO No 12-08-1938 del 12 de Agosto de 1938 » Derechoteca.com". www.derechoteca.com. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  10. "DECRETO SUPREMO del 22 de Agosto de 1938 – 1 » Derechoteca.com". www.derechoteca.com. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  11. "Bolivia: Constitución política de 1938, 30 de octubre de 1938". www.lexivox.org. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  12. "DECRETO SUPREMO del 24 de Abril de 1939 – 1 » Derechoteca.com". www.derechoteca.com. Retrieved 26 January 2021.

Bibliography
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