Natalicio González

• Name — Juan Natalicio González • Order — 37th President of Paraguay • Term Start — August 16, 1948 • Term End — January 30, 1949 • Predecessor — Juan Manuel Frutos • Successor — Raimundo Rolón • Birth Name — Juan Natalicio González Paredes • Born — 8 September 1897 • Birthplace — Villarrica, Paraguay • Died — 6 December 1966 • Place of death — Mexico City, Mexico • Spouse — Lydia Frutos • Party — Colorado Party (Guión Rojo)

Natalicio González was born in Villarrica in the department of Guairá. Having lost his parents, he moved to Asunción, Paraguay's capital, in 1912 to finish his high school studies. He graduated in 1915 from the Colegio Nacional de Asunción (Asunción's National College), and planned to study medicine in the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (Asunción's National University). However, that same year the government shut down the UNA's medical school. Meanwhile, Natalicio started developing a career as journalist and writer, and became affiliated with the Colorado Party. He had no further formal education, but he achieved an outstanding intellectual level through a very disciplined self-education. In 1928 he married Lydia Frutos, a well-known Paraguayan socialite. Lydia was famous for her beauty and also for her high intellectual level, having graduated from educational institutions abroad.

The civil war of 1947 saw the Colorado Party and President Higinio Morínigo fight a rebellion by members of the Liberal Party, Revolutionary Febrerista Party and Communist Party. Significant portions of the army rebelled against the government, but Morínigo was able to maintain power with the help of the Guión Rojo, a paramilitary force of the Colorado Party that Natalicio had himself created in the early 40s and which proved crucial in helping the party maintain control of the state during this period. Natalicio was elected president on 14 February 1948; he was nominated by the Colorados, and was the only candidate. Incumbent President Higinio Morínigo, who had been a de facto dictator, threatened a coup d´état to retain power. and was himself deposed by a coup on 3 June. Juan Manuel Frutos became interim president until Natalicio took office on 15 August. One of the most important acts of his administration was the nationalization of the American Light and Traction Company (CALT), which later became the Ande. One of his famous phrases was: "There will be no red poor"; this led him to give important and politically powerful positions to representatives of all sections of the Colorado Party. From the start of his term, there were rumors that he would not finish his term of office. On 26 October 1948 dissident Colorados attempted a coup d'état against him. The rebellion was blocked by loyalist forces, but Natalicio could not hold out for long. On 29 January 1949 another coup broke out, initiated by Felipe Molas López, Federico Chaves, and defense minister General Raimundo Rolón, who controlled the military forces. Natalicio resigned in the early morning of 30 January, and General Rolón took power. Natalicio González was again driven into exile. On 7 February 1949 he went to Buenos Aires. In 1950 he went to Mexico. He was the last intellectual to hold the presidency of the Republic in the twentieth century.

Natalicio died in Mexico on 6 December 1966, of a heart attack. He had been invited back to Paraguay and was to leave that very day. His wife Lydia committed suicide after finding his body.