Preceded by Arturo Armando Molina Name Carlos Romero Resigned October 15, 1979 | Nationality Salvadorian Party National Coalition Party | |
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Succeeded by Revolutionary Government Junta Full Name Carlos Humberto Romero Mena Born February 29, 1924 (age 100)
Chalatenango, El Salvador ( 1924-02-29 ) Presidential term July 1, 1977 – October 15, 1979 | ||
General Carlos Humberto Romero Mena (born February 29, 1924) is a former President of El Salvador, elected on February 20, 1977 in a supposedly fraudulent election and inaugurated on July 1, 1977.
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Early life
Romero was born Carlos Humberto Romero Mena in Chalatenango, El Salvador on February 29, 1924.
Presidency
Romero held power until October 1979 when he was deposed with a reformist coup d'etat by dissident, politically leftist and moderate military officers and civilians. The coup d'etat that deposed President-General Humberto Romero was preamble to El Salvador's twelve-year civil war. Romero was a member of the National Conciliation Party, and also served as Defense Minister from 1972 to 1973.
Romero's time in office was largely characterized by escalating violence and instability. In the late 1970s, political unrest increased, because of El Salvador's severe socio-economic inequalities unaddressed by his government and widespread discontent with government policy culminated in widespread protest and rebellion, which was met with reprisal by government forces. President Romero increased government education spending - but this won him no popularity with the left.