Carlos Andrés Pérez

Carlos Andrés Pérez Rodríguez, born on October 27, 1922, was a prominent Venezuelan politician known for his significant contributions to the country's political landscape. Often referred to by his initials, CAP, and affectionately called El Gocho due to his Andean roots, Pérez served as the 47th and 50th president of Venezuela, holding office from 1974 to 1979 and again from 1989 to 1993. He was a key figure in the founding of Acción Democrática, which became the dominant political party in Venezuela during the latter half of the twentieth century.

After the fall of the dictator Marcos Pérez Jiménez, Pérez returned from exile and took on the role of interior affairs minister under Rómulo Betancourt from 1959 to 1964. His tenure was marked by a firm stance against guerrilla movements, establishing his reputation as a decisive leader. His first presidency was characterized by economic prosperity, often referred to as the Saudi Venezuela, thanks to substantial revenues from petroleum exports.

However, Pérez's second term was fraught with challenges, as it coincided with the ongoing economic crisis of the 1980s. His administration faced severe social unrest, highlighted by widespread riots known as the Caracazo, as well as two coup attempts in 1992. The culmination of his political career came in May 1993 when he became the first Venezuelan president to be impeached by the Supreme Court, facing charges of embezzling two hundred fifty million bolívars, approximately two point seven million US dollars, from a presidential discretionary fund.