Government of David Toro, 1936–37

David Toro assumed office as the 35th President of Bolivia on 22 May 1936, and his term ended upon his forced resignation on 13 July 1937. A colonel during the Chaco War, Toro's military prowess was matched by his political tact allowing him to assume leadership over the young officer corps which deposed the government of José Luis Tejada Sorzano on 17 May 1936 and handed him the presidency on 22 May.[1]

Presidency of David Toro
22 May 1936 – 13 July 1937
PartyMilitary Socialist
SeatPalacio Quemado
Plurinational State of Bolivia
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Germán Busch was Provisional President of the Junta until 22 May

Toro presided over a civil-military junta made up of both military officers and left-wing politicians which constituted the 97th national cabinet of Bolivia.[2]

Cabinet Ministers

Cabinet of Bolivia
Presidency of David Toro, 1936–1937
Office Name Party Term Prof. N.C[lower-alpha 1] P.C[lower-alpha 2]
President Germán Busch[lower-alpha 3] Mil-Soc. 17 May 1936 – 22 May 1936 Mil. – –
David Toro Mil-Soc. 22 May 1936 – 13 July 1937 Mil.

Vice President Office vacant throughout presidency
Minister of Foreign Affairs
and Worship
(Chancellor)		 – Enrique Baldivieso PSU 17 May 1936 – 11 November 1936 Law. 97 1
Minister of Propaganda Enrique Finot[3] PL 11 November 1936 – 13 July 1937 Law. 97 1
Minister of Government
and Justice		 Julio Viera Mil-Soc. 17 May 1936 – 13 July 1937 Mil. 97 1
Minister of National Defense Gabriel Gosálvez PSU 17 May 1936 – 7 September 1936 Eco. 97 1
Oscar Moscoso[lower-alpha 4] Mil-Soc. 7 September 1936 – 13 July 1937 Mil. 97 1
Minister of Finance
and Statistics		 Fernando Álvarez Campero N/A 17 May 1936 – 13 July 1937 Law. 97 1
Minister of Industry
and Commerce		 Jorge Jórdan Mil-Soc. 17 May 1936 – 6 August 1936 Mil. 97 1
Arturo Guillén Mil-Soc. 6 August 1936 – 13 July 1937 Mil. 97 1
Minister of Mining
and Petrol		 Antenor Ichazo Mil-Soc. 17 May 1936 – 13 July 1937 Mil. 97 1
Minister of Development
and Communications		 Pedro Zilveti Arce PRS 17 May 1936 – 13 July 1937 Law. 97 1
Minister of Education
and Indigenous Affairs		 Raul Tovar Mil-Soc. 17 May 1936 – 12 October 1936 Mil. 97 1
Alfredo Peñaranda Mil-Soc. 12 October 1936 – 23 November 1937 Mil. 97 1[lower-alpha 5]
Minister of Work
and Social Security		 Waldo Álvarez CSTB 17 May 1936 – 17 January 1937 Uni. 97 1
Javier Paz Campero PSU 17 January 1937 – 13 July 1937 Law. 97 1
Minister of Agriculture,
Colonization, and
Immigration		 Luis Añez Rodríguez[lower-alpha 6] Mil-Soc. 17 May 1936 – 12 October 1936 Mil. 97 1

Composition

The majority of the civil-military junta consisted of military personnel, particularly members of the young officer corps. Of these, were the four lieutenant colonels; Julio Viera (Government and Justice), Jorge Jórdan (Industry and Commerce), Antenor Ichazo (Mining and Petrol), and Luis Añez Rodríguez (oAgriculture, Colonization, and Immigration).[6] Other members of the military included Major Raul Tovar (Education and Indigenous Affairs), and Colonel Oscar Moscoso (National Defense). This is not to mention lieutenant colonel Germán Busch, the provisional president of the junta until 22 May, as well as David Toro himself, who has a colonel. Leftist political and social movements were represented by Enrique Baldivieso, one of the founders and leader of the United Socialist Party (PSU).[7] Organized labor was represented by Waldo Álvarez, a key figure in the debilitating general strikes which set the stage for the stage for the coup.[8] Álvarez had been elected as a delegate to the junta by an assembly of the Workers Federation of Labor (FOT) and the Local Workers Federation (FOL).[9]

President Toro with the government junta which served as his ministerial cabinet

The composition of the cabinet was also significantly restructured, elevating the number of ministries to ten.[1][10] Four of these were the Ministries of Statistics (assigned to Finance), Immigration (to Agriculture), Commerce (to Development), and Indigenous Affairs (to Education). In addition, the Ministry of Propaganda was established as an office of the Foreign Ministry in late 1936. Furthermore, the Ministry of Mining and Petrol was formed, foreshadowing a more active involvement by the Bolviain government in the exploitation of its natural resources which would eventually lead to the nationalization of Standard Oil in March 1937.[11] Finally, the Ministry of Work and Social Security was established under the leadership of unionist Waldo Álvarez.[9] However, Álvarez would resign in early 1937 following the issuance of an "anti-communist" decree by Toro which led to the arrest of numerous senior officials. A second assembly of the FOT and FOL would elect Javier Paz Campero of the PSU to replace Álvarez.[9]

On 13 July 1937, dissatisfied with what he viewed as unending political compromise and pragmatism, Germán Busch lead a popular movement which forced the resignation of David Toro.[12] Busch was transmitted control of the junta, becoming de facto president. Many of the ministers in Toro's cabinet would remain in Busch's.

Established Ministries
  • Office of Indigenous Affairs (under Education): Raul Tovar (Mil.), first holder from 17 May 1936[13]
  • Office of Statistics (under Finance): Fernando Álvarez Campero, first holder from 17 May 1936
  • Office of Immigration (under Agriculture): Luis Añez Rodríguez (Mil.), first holder from 17 May 1936
  • Office of Commerce (under Industry): Jorge Jórdan (Mil.), first holder from 17 May 1936
  • Ministry of Work and Social Security: Waldo Álvarez (CSTB), first holder from 17 May 1936[9]
  • Ministry of Mining and Petrol: Antenor Ichazo (Mil.), first holder from 17 May 1936
  • Office of Propaganda (under Foreign Affairs): Enrique Finot, first holder from 11 November 1936[13]
  • Enrique Baldivieso – Chancellor (PSU)
  • Enrique Finot – Chancellor (PL)
  • Julio Viera – Minister of Government and Justice
  • Gabriel Gosálvez – Minister of National Defense (PSU)
  • Oscar Moscoso – Minister of National Defense
  • Jorge Jórdan – Minister of Industry and Commerce
  • Antenor Ichazo – Minister of Mining and Petrol
  • Pedro Zilveti – Minister of Development and Communications (PRS)
  • Raul Tovar – Minister of Education and Indigenous Affairs
  • Luis Añez Rodríguez – Minister of Agriculture, Colonization, and Immigration

Notes
  1. Denoting which national cabinet the minister was originally a part of
  2. Denoting which presidential cabinet the minister was originally a part of
  3. Provisional President of the Junta from 17 May to 22 May 1936
  4. Acting Foreign Minister from 20 June to 4 September 1936[4]
  5. Held over into the Busch cabinet
  6. Acting Foreign Minister from 7 September to 19 December 1936[5]

References
  1. Klein, Herbert S. (1 February 1965). "David Toro and the Establishment of "Military Socialism" in Bolivia". Hispanic American Historical Review. 45 (1): 25–52. doi:10.1215/00182168-45.1.25. ISSN 0018-2168.
  2. Gisbert 2003, p. 342.
  3. "canciller". web.archive.org. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  4. "canciller". web.archive.org. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  5. "canciller". web.archive.org. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  6. Boullón Barreto, Gustavo (1936). "Bolivia Socialist Republic".
  7. Political handbook of the world 1939. New York, 1939. P. 16.
  8. "La rebelión de mayo del 36". www.paginasiete.bo (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  9. "Álvarez, el ministro obrero que hizo temblar al poder". www.paginasiete.bo (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  10. Gisbert 2003, pp. 343
  11. "DECRETO SUPREMO No 13-03-1937 del 13 de Marzo de 1937 » Derechoteca.com". www.derechoteca.com. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  12. Klein 1967, p. 169
  13. Gisbert 2003, pp. 343

Bibliography
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