MANUEL PRADO Y UGARTECHE: BIOGRAPHY, FIRST AND SECOND GOVERNMENT - ARTE - 2025

Manuel Prado y Ugarteche (1889-1967) was a Peruvian politician who held the presidency of his country on two different occasions. His first government took place between 1939 and 1945, while the second ran from 1956 to 1962.

Following in the footsteps of his father, who had also been the country's president, Prado entered politics when he was 28 years old. At that time he supported the coup led by Benavides Larrea against Billinghurst. Later, his political activities caused him to go into exile. In Paris he established what would be his second residence.

Manuel Prado and Ugarteche together with his wife in 1960 - Source: Harry Pot

After returning to Peru, Prado participated in the 1939 elections. With the support of various parties, he managed to win the votes and held the presidency for the first time. During this first government, he highlighted his position with the allies in World War II, as well as the conflict that his country had with Ecuador.

In 1956, Prado returned to attend elections. His second government lasted until 1962, when a coup caused him to leave the country. The politician returned to the French capital, where he died in 1967.

Biography

The future Peruvian president was born in Lima on April 21, 1889. His full name was Manuel Carlos Prado y Ugarteche and he belonged to a highly regarded relative at the time. His father, Mariano Ignacio, had been president of the country until Nicolás de Piérola's coup in 1879.

Studies

The young Prado received his first studies at the Colegio de la Inmaculada and his superiors at the University of San Marcos. There he graduated in 1907 presenting a thesis entitled "The centers of hydrostatic pressure."

Three years later he finished his doctorate and completed his training at the National School of Engineers. During this stage he already showed interest in politics. Thus, he participated in the International Student Congress that had its headquarters in Montevideo.

On the other hand, as was customary in those years, Prado received military training. He first obtained the rank of sergeant and later became a cavalry lieutenant. One of the frequent crises with Ecuador, which was on the verge of provoking the outbreak of a war, caused it to be mobilized in 1910.

Entry into politics

Like some of his brothers, Manuel Prado joined the Civil Party at a very young age. All of them lent support to the coup that Oscar Benavides Larrea led in early 1914 to overthrow then-President Guillermo Billinghurst. This support led to a promotion to the rank of lieutenant.

The following year, Prado was appointed component of the Municipal Council of Lima. Within this body he developed the functions of inspector of works. After leaving this position, he became president of the Associated Electric Companies.

In 1919 he entered Congress as a deputy and was one of the leaders of the opposition to Augusto B. Leguía, who wanted to run for president again. This opposition, quite fierce, cost Prado to be arrested and exiled to Chile in 1921. Prado preferred to leave that country and head to Paris, France, where he resided until his return to Peru in 1932.

Back in the country, Prado assumed the presidency of the Compañía Peruana de Vapores and, two years later, that of the Banco de Reserva del Perú.

1939 elections

The call for elections in 1939 took place in a country with a very turbulent political landscape. On the one hand, the most followed party in Peru, APRA, was outlawed. The same happened with another important organization, the Revolutionary Union.

In this way, the main candidates were, on the one hand, José Quesada Larrea, who acquired one of the most influential newspapers in Peru, La Prensa, to try to control the cleanliness of the elections and, on the other, Manuel Prado, supported by Oscar Benavides.

Both candidates tried to obtain the support of the Apristas, although they preferred not to opt for either.

One of the events that marked those elections was the closure of La Prensa by the government. Prado achieved victory, but many denounced that fraud had taken place.

Back in paris

Prado's presidential term ended in 1945. The politician supported Eloy Ureta for the following elections, but he was defeated by a coalition of parties made up of APRA and other groups.

Manuel Prado took the option of returning to the French capital. There he lived until shortly before the 1956 elections.

1956 elections

According to historians, Prado's followers convinced him to run again in new elections, those of 1956. To do this, a party called the Pradista Democratic Movement was founded, although later it changed its name to the Peruvian Democratic Movement.

The other candidates for the presidency were Hernando de Lavalle and Belaunde Terry. Again, as in 1939, the APRA could not participate in the voting. On this occasion, they did give their support to Prado in exchange for the promise to legalize the party. With this, Prado returned to rise as the winner in the voting.

Coup

When the law established it, in 1962, Prado proceeded to call new votes. However, the fraud allegations were massive. The military, faced with this, staged a coup, just a few days before Prado officially ended his term.

Exile and death

Manuel Prado left Peru to go into exile, again, in Paris. He only returned to the country to participate, in 1966, in a tribute to his father for his participation in the Callao combat.

The Peruvian politician died in 1967 in Paris. His remains rest, along with those of his father, in the Presbyter Cemetery.

First government

Manuel Prado began his first presidential term on December 8, 1939 and ended it at the end of July 1945.

This entire period was marked by the development of the Second World War. In fact, the electoral process of 1939 was already influenced by this conflict, since some forces of fascist ideology entered the fray in the image of what had happened in Europe.

The candidacy of Manuel Prado, in this way, gathered the support of the opponents of these fascist ideas. Among his allies, gathered in the General Confederation of Parties, were from the businessmen of the industry to labor movements close to the Communist Party.

Second World War

In addition to the above, Peru suffered the effects of the war on its economy, especially in commercial activity. On the one hand, this caused some problems as imports fell, but, on the other, it allowed new industrial sectors to appear to supply the products that stopped arriving from abroad.

On the diplomatic side, Peru initially chose to remain neutral, although it was closer to the allies. Later, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese, the Peruvian government declared its absolute support for that side.

Economic aspect

As noted, the Second World War strongly affected Peruvian trade. One of the measures that the government approved to alleviate some of the problems that appeared was to increase taxes on some products, such as cotton.

In general terms, experts point out that Prado's economic policy during his first government had two different moments.

The first, which lasted until 1943, was characterized by the implementation of policies that would help the country's industry. Likewise, it also favored US investors. Starting in 1940, Prado reinforced support for national industry using customs duties.

The second period was more focused on the distribution of wealth, with measures favorable to the workers. On the other hand, direct taxes began to acquire greater importance. Finally, Peru signed several agreements with the United States that meant more opportunities for Peruvian industry and agriculture.

Boost to industrialization

Given the decline in imports of some products due to the war, Peru had to promote the creation of industries that could offer them to the population.

The result was a growth in industrial production of more than 7 percentage points, reaching 19% of GDP. Some of the sectors that grew the most were chemicals, textiles or construction.

Social aspect

From the very moment of the elections, the Prado government tried to improve relations with leftist parties and organizations. Thanks to this, the labor unions called far fewer protests than in previous periods.

In turn, the government agreed to legalize various union organizations. At the peak of these good relations was the founding of the CTP (Confederation of Workers of Peru), controlled by APRA and the Communist Party, but which had the approval of the government.

On the other hand, salaries grew during the years of the first Prado government. The president decreed the creation of a minimum wage and tried to control the rise in prices.

Education

The first Prado government was also concerned with improving education in the country. Among the measures taken, the budget increase for this area stood out, something that led to the development of an ambitious plan to end illiteracy.

The war against Ecuador

Since independence from the Spanish Crown, Peru and Ecuador had clashed on several occasions over some border areas. In July 1941, both countries fought a series of battles in an undeclared war.

This situation lasted until the beginning of October. On the 2nd of that month, the two opposing countries, with the mediation of Brazil, Chile, Argentina and the United States, signed an agreement that should end the confrontations.

Somewhat later, on January 29, 1942, Peru and Ecuador signed the Protocol of Peace, Friendship and Limits of Rio de Janeiro. Through this treaty, border disputes were resolved, although tensions reappeared periodically.

Second government

The 1956 elections marked a new victory for Manuel Prado. His second term began on July 28 of that year.

Coexistence period

Manuel Prado had promised the Apristas to legalize the party in exchange for their support in the elections. As soon as the legislature began, the President fulfilled this commitment and annulled the law that had led to its legalization. Following this, he promulgated an amnesty for political prisoners and allowed the exiles to return.

All these measures caused that time to receive the name of "period of coexistence."

Opposition

Despite this rapprochement with leftist organizations, the Prado government had to face great internal opposition. In the countryside, the requests for agrarian reform caused serious disturbances and, on the other hand, a movement appeared demanding that several oil fields be recovered from the hands of US companies.

One of the most important leaders of the opposition was Pedro Beltrán. Prado, to silence him, appointed him Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. The president's maneuver was a success and Beltrán ended up becoming one of the pillars of the government.

Economic aspect

This second term of Prado had to face serious economic problems. To begin with, he had inherited a 560 million deficit caused by the previous government.

Likewise, the US tariff policy hurt Peruvian exports. Lastly, minerals had suffered a sharp drop in price.

The government formed a commission to deal with land reform and housing problems. With this, he intended to improve the living conditions of citizens.

Despite attempts, Prado failed to improve the country's economic situation. After several measures that ended in failure, he was forced to request a loan from the International Development Fund.

With Beltrán at the head of the Finance Ministry, the government approved several very unpopular measures. Among the most important were the increase in the price of gasoline and the reduction in food aid. This policy, although it caused a worsening of the conditions of the lower classes, helped to stabilize the finances.

Infrastructures and education

As part of the policies to promote the development of the country, the government promoted terrestrial communications in the jungle area.

On the other hand, Prado approved the Educational Plan of Peru. By means of this measure, he intended to improve all educational stages and continue to influence the literacy of the population.

Within this educational policy, various universities were opened, such as that of San Luis Gonzaga in Ica or that of the Peruvian Amazon.

Overthrow

This second government chaired by Prado and Ugarteche had an abrupt end. The president had called the pertinent elections and these were held on the scheduled date. However, numerous cases of fraud were reported, eventually leading to military intervention.

After being arrested by the military, Prado left the country to settle definitively in Paris, where he died in 1967.

References

1. Biographies and Lives. Manuel Prado and Ugarteche. Obtained from biografiasyvidas.com
2. Tamariz, Domingo. Manuel Prado Ugarteche. Obtained from elperuano.pe
3. DePeru.com. Manuel Prado Ugarteche. Obtained from deperu.com
4. Your Dictionary. Manuel Prado Ugarteche Facts. Retrieved from biography.yourdictionary.com
5. The Biography. Biography of Manuel Prado y Ugarteche (1889-1967). Retrieved from thebiography.us
6. Revolvy. Manuel Prado Ugarteche. Retrieved from revolvy.com
7. Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture. Prado Y Ugarteche, Manuel (1889–1967). Retrieved from encyclopedia.com