Introduction
Dr. Federico Chaves Careaga (February 15, 1882 – April 24, 1978) was a Paraguayan politician and soldier who served as President of Paraguay from September 10, 1949 to May 5, 1954. He was a member of the Colorado Party.
Chaves was born on February 15, 1882 in Paraguarí. His parents were the Portuguese Federico Chaves and his wife Felicia Careaga, from Guaira, Paraguay.
Political History
Chaves, who received his law degree in 1905, was a longtime leader of the right-of-centre Colorado (National Republican) Party. When his party served in a coalition government in 1946, Chaves was appointed to the Supreme Court. He served as Paraguay's foreign minister from 1947 up until he became president in 1949. He was elected for a three-year term in 1950 and later reelected in 1953. When Chaves tried to strengthen his regime by arming the national police in 1954, a coup d'état led by General Alfredo Stroessner on May 5 ended his administration.
Death
Chaves died in 1978 at the age of 96 in the city of Asunción, from natural causes. He was buried with full state honours; Stroessner attended the services.