Óscar Únzaga

Óscar Únzaga
Leader of the Bolivian Socialist Falange
In office
15 August 1945 – 19 April 1959
Preceded byHimself (as general secretary)
Succeeded by Mario Gutiérrez
General Secretary of the Bolivian Socialist Falange
In office
15 August 1937 – 15 August 1945
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byHimself (as party leader)
Personal details
Born
Óscar Únzaga de la Vega

(1916-04-19)19 April 1916
Cochabamba, Bolivia
Died19 April 1959(1959-04-19) (aged 43)
La Paz, Bolivia
Cause of deathSuicide
Political partyBolivian Socialist Falange

Óscar Únzaga de la Vega (19 April 1916 – 19 April 1959) was a Bolivian political figure and rebel. Most significantly, he founded the Bolivian Socialist Falange (FSB) movement in 1937, and ran for President in the 1956 elections, when his party became the main opposition movement to the Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario (MNR).

In 1959 Únzaga was one of fifty who died during an attempted coup by the FSB, with government forces reporting that he killed himself.[1] Supporters disputed the official version and stated that Únzaga had been assassinated. He is revered as a hero and martyr by some factions of well-to-do Bolivian political elites.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Phil Gunson, Andrew Thompson & Greg Chamberlain, The Dictionary of Contemporary Politics of South America, London: Routledge, 1990, pp. 38-39
Party political offices
Preceded by
New political party
General Secretary of the Bolivian Socialist Falange
1937–1945
Succeeded by
Himself
as Leader of the Party
Preceded by
Himself
as General Secretary
Leader of the Bolivian Socialist Falange
1945–1959
Succeeded by
Preceded by Bolivian Socialist Falange nominee
for President of Bolivia

1956