Interim government of Octavio Lepage
The interim government of Octavio Lepage lasted fifteen days, from May 21 to June 5, 1993. Lepage was appointed interim president by the Congress of Venezuela due to the impeachment process of Carlos Andrés Pérez.
Senator Octavio Lepage was president of Congress for the Democratic Action (AD) party and had competed with Carlos Andrés Pérez in the primaries for the AD candidacy in the 1988 presidential elections. His was the first of two interim governments to be designated by the AD-majority Congress to finish Pérez's five-year term, an unprecedented process in Venezuelan democracy.
Background
[edit]Octavio Lepage had served as Minister of Interior under Jaime Lusinchi between 1986 and 1988 and later as a presidential pre-candidate for Democratic Action (AD), supported by Lusinchi,[1][2] losing to Carlos Andrés Pérez.
After the Supreme Court requested Congress to impeach President Carlos Andrés Pérez,[3] and Pérez failed to appoint a minister for his replacement, the then-president of Congress, Octavio Lepage, was appointed interim president, assuming office without a clear end date.[1][4]
Cabinet
[edit]Lepage's cabinet was a continuation of the final cabinet of Carlos Andrés Pérez's second presidency. Lepage had intended to appoint a different cabinet if his mandate had been extended.[5]
Domestic policy
[edit]Lepage stated that his three priorities as president would be:[5]
First: To foster a broad national understanding between fundamental political forces and influential sectors such as production organizations, professional associations, unions, and the Church. He emphasized the need for agreement, which could be reflected in the cabinet, unless his tenure was very brief. Given the proximity to the December elections, he did not believe any party would agree to join a cabinet at such a critical and controversial time.
Second: To address the collective anguish caused by the deteriorating personal security situation. He acknowledged that previous governments had faced this issue but with limited positive results from implemented plans. While he had no immediate plans, he was aware of the need to consult experienced individuals to begin taking at least progressive measures to confront this phenomenon more forcefully.
Third: To tackle the economic issue. He noted existing difficulties and the need to review applied policies to determine which should be maintained. He believed that the error, or inconvenience, of giving a highly dogmatic character to the set of measures inspired by neoliberalism had been made. He felt that the economic reality, idiosyncrasies, and the current model of democracy had not been sufficiently consulted. President Pérez, in his view, had not reached the stage of self-criticism that he believed should now be raised.
Lepage's presidency lasted fifteen days, generating dissension in Congress[1] that favored the designation of Ramón J. Velásquez, a senator from the Democratic Action party representing Táchira State.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Falleció el expresidente interino de Venezuela Octavio Lepage". Diario Las Américas (in Spanish).
- ^ Roberto Ortiz de Zárate. "Jaime Lusinchi". Barcelona Centre for International Affairs.
- ^ Manuel Beroes P. "Velásquez, Ramón José, gobierno de" (in Spanish). Fundación Empresas Polar.
- ^ Comas, José (1993-05-22). "Lepage, presidente interino sin saber hasta cuándo,". El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582.
- ^ a b "LEPAGE: HAY QUE HACER CAMBIOS". El Tiempo (in Spanish). 1993-05-24.