Famous Venezuelan Presidents

Carlos Andrés Pérez was a Venezuelan politician best remembered for his service as the President of Venezuela on two occasions; from 1974 to 1979 and again from 1989 to 1993. An important politician, Carlos Andrés Pérez also served as the Minister of Home Affairs of Venezuela from 12 March 1962 to 12 August 1963.

Rafael Caldera was a two-time president of Venezuela. He is remembered as a man who established a stable democracy in Venezuela by issuing a pardon that ended guerrilla warfare in the country. He lived a simple life, devoid of luxury. His written works include the award-winning Andrés Bello.

Venezuelan military officer Marcos Pérez Jiménez became Venezuela’s minister of defense before serving the country as its president. His presidency witnessed rampant unemployment, inflation, and corruption. He was forced out of office, he fled to the US but was eventually jailed for embezzlement of government funds.

Former Venezuelan president Rómulo Betancourt was known for his left-wing ideals. Though his political career was marred by exiles, he is considered to be the Founding Father of modern democratic Venezuela. He was also known for his agrarian reforms and served 2 terms as the president.

Rómulo Gallegos was not just the first freely elected president of Venezuela but was also a Nobel Prize-nominated novelist. His written works include the iconic novels Doña Bárbara and Canaima. He was ousted from his office by the 1948 Venezuelan coup headed by several leading army officers.

Venezuelan military general and dictator Juan Vicente Gómez served as the country’s president for 3 terms. Called the Tyrant of the Andes by his opponents, he is said to have become the richest man in South America. He reduced Venezuela’s foreign debts and maintained healthy relations with the Western powers.

Known as the Lion of the Andes, Cipriano Castro went from being a cowboy to a soldier and then the president of Venezuela. His 9 years of presidency were marred by corruption, as he embezzled a huge amount of money. The first president from the Andes was eventually deposed by Juan Vicente Gómez.

Venezuelan politician Luis Herrera Campins, a member of the COPEI political party, served as President of Venezuela from 1979 to 1984. He assumed office as President at a time when the economic boom that his country witnessed after world oil prices quadrupled in 1973, started showing serious flaws and by the time his term ended, the economy was in meltdown. 

Former president of Venezuela Jaime Lusinchi led a presidency that was marred by excessive government expenditure, reduced oil revenues, inflation, and rising foreign debts. Accused of corruption, he fled the country. He flew to Miami and then lived in Costa Rica for a while, before returning to Caracas.