Female Presidency: Violeta Barrios de Chamorro

From WolfWikis

Biography

Violeta Barrios de Chamorro was born October 18th, 1929. Born in Rivas, Nicaragua Violeta Barrios was one of seven children. Born into a wealthy family, Violeta Barrios' father was a cattle rancher. Violeta Barrios recieved her education in an all girls' catholic school in Texas, and later recieved a college education in Viginia. The plan was for Violeta to work on her English at the request of her father, while in the United States, but she never became fluent. In 1948 when her father died unexpectedly, Violeta return to Nicaragua. In 1949 Violeta's brother introduced her to a friend from college, Pedro Joaquín de Chamorro Cardenal, whose family owned, La Prensa, the leading opposition newspaper in the capital, Managua. A year later, in 1950, Violeta Barrios and Pedro Joaquín de Chamorro Cardenal were married. Pedro Joaquín de Chamorro became publisher of La Prensa following the death of his father.

Pedro Joaquín used La Prensa in order to encourage the ideas of the Conservatives and to criticize the abuses of the Somoza command. La Prensa helped to gain popular support from the masses. La Prensa was the only opposition because it was the only other newspaper in circulation besides the newspaper that was owned by the Somozas. While Violeta Barrios and Pedro Joaquín de Chamorro Cardenal were married, Violeta was supportive of her husband, but committed herself to taking care of their five children, and the Catholic church, as to not get involved with her husband's political issues. The Chamorro's had three girls, and two boys, Pedro Joaquín V, Caludia Lucía, Cristiana, Carlos Fernando, and María Milagros, who died at birth. Violeta Barrios was not only supportive of her husband through his campaigns, but also while he was exiled and imprisoned for his active opposition against the Somozas and his democratic political views. On January 10th, 1978, Pedro Joaquín was assassinated. After her husbands assassination, Violeta Barrios joined the anti-Somoza opposition.

Why did she run?

Violeta Chamorro describes in her autobiography that she was "driven to fulfill my [her] late husband, Pedro's, dream that Nicaragua become a truly democratic republic" (Dreams of the Heart). Violeta Chamorro felt that she was the one that needed to continue on what Pedro had started. Her movement towards presidency was the result of many radical acts of disobedience against military rule. Violeta Barrios believed her destiny was to follow in Pedro's footsteps in attempt to save Nicaragua from the Somoza oppression.

Life in Politics: Violeta Barrios de Chamorro's Path to Presidency

Violeta Chamorro joined the Governing Junta of National Reconstruction in Costa Rica as the leader of a new political party. Violeta Barrios had almost no political experience, and although her idea were heard, they had little impact. Violeta Barrios gained respect because she was a "political surrogate". She took over what her husband had left. Violeta Barrios resigned from the Governing Junta of National Reconstruction in April of 1990 because members had little control over the direction of the new government. Violeta Barrios committed herself to La Prensa. Violeta Barrios demanded La Prensa to incorporate a policy in opposition to the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN). After resigning from the junta, Violeta Barrios began to develop her public figure. Violeta Barrios played a big role in La Prensa, and began voicing her opposition against the FSLN. La Prensa gained a reputation known by the masses, as well as Violeta Barrios de Chamorro. Violeta Barrios not only was a political figure, but she also represented family, motherhood, religion, and patriotism.

The elections were scheduled for February 1990. As the elections came closer and closer, the opposition forces against the FSLN became stronger and stronger. The major opposition parties created a National Opposition Union (UNO), the principal goal of the UNO was to take away the power of the FSLN. The UNO was looking for a strong leader, Violeta Barrios de Chamorro was chosen to be president of the UNO. Chamorro gained support from the United States, and began her campaign for presidency. When Chamorro agreed to be president of the UNO, "The ideals of the revolutions had be betrayed. Nicaraguans were at war with themselves, caught in a downward spiral of violence that had left thirty thousand dead and the economy bankrupt. And if the Sandinista leaders were to prevail, the roots of communism would spread throughout the land, strangling freedom forever" (Dreams of the Heart).

Throughout her campaign, Chamorro constantly reminded the public of her martyred husband, and her suffering. She promised improved relations with the United States, which would include "substantial aid, and an end to economic boycott" (Women in World Politics). Her main argument was that she guaranteed an end to the Contra war, which would end the draft and disband all military forces. One February 25, 1990, winning 55 percent of the popular vote, the UNO won the presidency for Chamorro. She became the first woman to govern in a Central America nation. [1]

Presidency

Violeta Barrios de Chamorro gained support from FSLN who agreed to "govern from below",popular support from the masses, and UNO politicians. The Contra war ended, the draft was aboloished, and military forces were generally disbanded, during the first three years of her presidency, just as promised. Military size was reduced significantly, as was the police force. Chamorro was respected for her learned political skill, her persistence, and her strength. Chamorro, also known as Doña Violeta, was a powerful candidate to a country that had just suffered from constant civil war. Chamorro encouraged Nicaragua to unite as a family, demonstrating her maternal love and devotion.

Although Chamorro had helped to end the Contra war, and the consolidation of electoral democracy, she did not do much for the Nicaraguan economy. When Chamorro became president, Nicaragua suffered from international debt, and was a country economically weakened by war. During the 1990's, many Latin American countries faced international debts, and economic instability, Chamorro implemented many of the same structures which other countries used. Although many of these structures were implemented under Chamorro, she did not have control over them.

Chamorro although politically inexperienced and facing an economically unstable country managed to retain power and preserve constitutional government until the end of her term. Many give credit to Violeta Barrios de Chamorro for her attempt to maintain the fragile peace within Nicaragua, that had finally been achieved after years of internal warfare.

In her autobiography Chamorro defends her presidency as well as the country of Nicaragua,"The last time the U.S. press said anything good about Nicaragua was when it came to the passionate defense of the Sandinistas", "Nobody reported that in 1995 Nicaragua's economy grew at a rate of 3.2 percent; that our exports have increase; that Exxon corporation has enlarged its presence in Nicaragua and Texaco too; that Motorola has invested; that Mobile Univeristy (Alabama) has opened a campus in Nicaragua; that we've privatized hundreds of businesses" (Dreams of the Heart).

"Nicaragua is now eligible for fresh credit for development from international lenders. To help reactivate the economy we have invested more than a billion dollars into improving the country's infrastructure: roads, ports, telecommunications, etc. The economy is growing. Our most recent figures show that our growth index stands at 4 percent, the highest it has been in the last eleven years. Inflation help steady at 12.2 percent. Our exports have grown 45 percent. Last year the agricultural sector grew by 8 percent. In the staples of the Nicaraguan diet, rice and beans, we experienced a growth of 30 percent. The Chinese have set up assembly plants in our free-trade zones. They sy our labor force is quick to learn and much cheaper than their own. Tourism offers great hope for the future...The expectation is that this year our growth index will reach a high of 5 percent and that inflation will drop to 10 percent. The economic crisis of the 1980s, hyperinflation and economic stagnation, is behind us" (Dreams of the Heart).

Chamorro also discusses the new universities that have been established in Nicaragua, and her plan to educate future leaders that "spring not from the top, privileged layers of society but from a broader sector."

Chamorro played the role of president, as well as the role of a woman. Chamorro proved that she had the power and the popular support to become president. Chamorro was a supportive mother, wife, and leader.

Bibliography

-Close, David. Nicaragua The Chamorro Years. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1999. This book provided information pertaining to Nicaragua as a whole during the reign of Violeta Barrios de Chamorro.

-Chamorro, Violeta Barrios. Dreams of the Heart. New York: Simon & Schuster Inc., 1996. An autobiography by Violeta Barrios de Chamorro contained vital information on why she reigned the way she did.

-D’Amico, Francine and Beckman, Peter R. Women in World Politics. Connecticut: Bergin & Garvey, 1995. This book included information about Violeta Barrios’ husband, Peron Joaquín de Chamorro, as well as good background information on Violeta Barrios.

-Kampwirth, Karen. “The Mother of the Nicarguans: Doña Violeta and the UNO’s Gender Agenda.” Latin American Perspectives. (1996): 67-86. JSTOR. Sage Publications, Inc. 10 November 2007. This scholarly article provided the view of the masses during the reign of Violeta Barrios.

-Tompkins, Cynthia and Foster, David William. Notable Twentieth-Century Latin American Women: A Biographical Dictionary. Connecticut: Reuters New Media Inc., 2001. This book discussed the pathway of Violeta Barrios’ reign over Nicaragua, from her childhood till the end of her presidency.