Pérez Rodríguez, Carlos Andrés

Related Category: Venezuelan History: Biographies

(kär´lōs ändrās´ pā´rās rôdrē´gās), 1922–, president of Venezuela (1974–78, 1989–93). An aide to President Rómulo Betancourt, he was secretary of the interior in Betancourt's second administration (1959–64). He became secretary of the Democratic Action party in 1967. Elected president in Dec., 1973, he instituted a sweeping economic policy, aimed at the nationalization of the oil and the iron and steel industries and eventual Venezuelan control of other foreign enterprises. His second term in office was marked by two coup attempts in 1992 and his suspension from office in Dec., 1993, following charges of misappropriating government funds. Pérez was placed under house arrest the following year and was convicted in May, 1996.