Carlos Blanco Galindo


Carlos Blanco Galindo served as caretaker President of Bolivia between June 1930 and March 1931.
Carlos Blanco was born in Cochabamba, Bolivia. A career military officer and a lawyer, Blanco was one of the leaders of the insurrection that toppled from power Hernando Siles, who had attempted to extend his term in office in view of the grave challenges posed by the onset of the Great Depression and other looming political crises. Unable to impose his will, Siles resigned and left his cabinet collectively in charge; it was this "Silista" cabinet that was, in fact, overthrown by the coup led by Blanco in late June, 1930.
Blanco's term was rather simple, easy, and short. His main task was to call new elections, which took place within 7 months of his swearing-in. In every other matter, he seemed to defer to his rather capable technocratic Cabinet, led by Daniel Sánchez Bustamante -- the grandfather, incidentally, of future president Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada. Upon the election, and assumption of office, of Daniel Salamanca, General Blanco was named Ambassador to Uruguay, but returned briefly to the active service upon the eruption of the Chaco War with Paraguay. He would later write a number of books.
General Blanco died in Cochabamba in October, 1943.