Stroessner's Coup: Paraguay's 35-Year Dictatorship Begins
On May 8, 1954, General Alfredo Stroessner seized power in Paraguay in a military coup, overthrowing President Federico Chaves with the backing of the Colorado Party. He would rule Paraguay for 35 years — the longest personal dictatorship in South American history — until 1989. His regime combined the Colorado Party machine, the military, and a pervasive patronage network with systematic repression by the secret police. Paraguay became a sanctuary for Nazi war criminals and a participant in Operation Condor. The 'Stronato,' as his era became known, ended only when his own son-in-law staged a coup in February 1989.
- Year: 1954 CE
- Category: Political
