Germán Busch assumed office as the 36th President of Bolivia on 13 July 1937, and his term was cut short by his death on 23 August 1939. A young military officer during the Chaco War, Busch attempted to champion the cause of Military Socialism brought forth by his predecessor David Toro but, unhappy with the results produced by his few reforms, opted to declare himself dictator in April 1939 before committing suicide four months later.

Busch formed three cabinets during his 25-month presidency, constituting the 98th to 100th national cabinets of Bolivia as part of the 1936–1938 Government Junta.

Cabinet Ministers Cabinet of BoliviaPresidency of Germán Busch, 1937–1939 Office Minister Party Term Days N.C P.C President Germán Busch Mil-Soc. Mil. 13 July 1937 – 23 August 1939 771 – – Vice President colspan="6" bgcolor="ECECEC" Enrique Baldivieso PSU Law. 28 May 1938 – 24 April 1939 331 colspan="6" bgcolor="ECECEC" Secretary-General of the Junta Gabriel Gosálvez PSU Eco. 13 July 1937 – 12 August 1938 395 98 1 colspan="8" bgcolor="ECECEC" Minister of Foreign Affairsand Worship(Chancellor) Minister ofPropaganda Enrique Baldivieso PSU Law. 13 July 1937 – 14 December 1937 154 98 1 Eduardo Díez de Medina – Law. 14 December 1937 – 23 August 1939617 99 2 – 100 3 Minister of Governmentand Justice – Félix Tabera Mil-Soc. Mil. 13 July 1937 – 19 July 1937 6 98 1 César B. Menacho Mil-Soc. Mil. 19 July 1937 – 12 August 1938 389 99 2 Minister ofPropaganda Gabriel Gosálvez PSU Eco. 12 August 1938 – 18 March 1939 218 100 3 Vicente Leyton – Law. 18 March 1939 – 15 April 1940 394 3 Minister of National Defense Secundino Olmos Mil-Soc. Mil. 13 July 1937 – 12 August 1938 395 98 1 99 2 Felipe Manuel Rivera Mil-Soc. Mil. 12 August 1938 – 23 August 1939 376 100 3 Minister of Financeand Statistics Federico Gutiérrez Granier PL – 13 July 1937 – 23 November 1937 133 98 1 Eduardo Belmont Baldivia – Law. 23 November 1937 – 12 August 1938 262 99 2 Vicente Mendoza López Ind. Eco. 12 August 1938 – 31 March 1939 231 100 3 Santiago Schulze Arana – Eco. 31 March 1939 – 23 August 1939 145 Minister of Industryand Commerce Angel Ayoroa Mil-Soc. Mil. 13 July 1937 – 23 November 1937 133 98 1 Alfredo Peñaranda Mil-Soc. Mil. 23 November 1937 – 12 August 1938 262 99 2 Vicente Leyton – Law. 12 August 1938 – 18 March 1939 218 100 3 Luis Herrero – – 18 March 1939 – 23 August 1939 158 Minister of Development Minister ofCommunications Luis Campero Mil-Soc. Mil. 13 July 1937 – 12 August 1938 395 98 1 99 2 Minister of Public Works Walter Méndez Mil-Soc. Mil. 12 August 1938 – 23 August 1939 376 100 3 Minister of Miningand Petrol Felipe Manuel Rivera Mil-Soc. Mil. 13 July 1937 – 12 August 1938 395 98 1 99 2 Dionisio Foianini – Bus. 12 August 1938 – 23 August 1939 376 100 3 Minister of Workand Social Security – Daniel Sossa Mil-Soc. Mil. 13 July 1937 – 12 August 1938 395 98 1 99 2 Minister ofSanitation Alberto Zelada Mil-Soc. Mil. 12 August 1938 – 20 March 1939 220 100 3 Roberto Jordán Cuéllar PSU – 20 March 1939 – 23 August 1939 156 Minister of Health and Hygiene colspan="8" bgcolor="ECECEC" Alfredo Mollinedo PSU Dr. 22 August 1938 – 15 April 1940 602 100 3 Minister of Educationand Indigenous Affairs Alfredo Peñaranda Mil-Soc. Mil. 12 October 1936 – 23 November 1937 133 97 1 Héctor Ormachea Zalles – Law. 23 November 1937 – 12 August 1938 262 99 2 Bernardo Navajas Trigo PL Law. 12 August 1938 – 15 April 1940 977 100 3 Minister of Agriculture,Colonization, andImmigration César B. Menacho Mil-Soc. Mil. 13 July 1937 – 19 July 1937 6 98 1 Walter Méndez Mil-Soc. Mil. 19 July 1937 – 12 August 1938 389 99 2 Julio Salmón PL Law. 12 August 1938 – 23 August 1939 376 100 3

Composition First cabinet Having secured the resignation of President David Toro on 13 July 1937, Germán Busch entered the Palacio Quemado and established his first cabinet. The government was a mixture of leftist military officers and members of the United Socialist Party (PSU) which had collaborated with the Toro regime.Political handbook of the world 1940. New York, 1940. P. 12.

The Council of Ministers formed by Germán Busch indicated a continued struggle his regime faced in pinpointing a clear ideology. Politically, Busch appointed ministers generally in line with the moderate socialism of Toro, choosing the head of the PSU Enrique Baldivieso as foreign minister and the moderate socialist Gabriel Gosálvez as secretary-general. However, at the same time, he appointed such figures as the right-wing Federico Gutiérrez Granier in the crucial office of Minister of Finance, a position the Liberal politician would use to undo many of the consumer goods subsidies of the Toro regime. Minister of Agriculture Julio Salmón and Minister of Education Bernardo Navajas Trigo were also Liberals.

Second cabinet The cabinet was renewed on 23 November 1937. Three ministerial positions were changed: Federico Gutiérrez Granier with Eduardo Belmont Baldivia as Minister of Finance, Angel Ayoroa with Alfredo Peñaranda as Minister of Industry, with Peñaranda's former position as Minister of Education being filled by Héctor Ormachea Zalles. The following month on 14 December, Foreign Minister Enrique Baldivieso was exchanged with Eduardo Díez de Medina who had served in the position once before.

During this period starting on 23 May, the National Convention of 1938 would be held and charged with rewriting the constitution.Rossana Barragán, "Ciudadanía y elecciones, convenciones y debates" in On 27 May, the National Convention would proclaim Busch constitutional president with Enrique Baldivieso as vice president.

Third cabinet Busch's third cabinet was formed on 12 August 1938. Gabriel Gosálvez would be appointed Minister of Government and Justice as well as Propaganda which had previously been under the purview of the Foreign Ministry. No Secretary-General was appointed to replace him. Multiple health related ministries would be established as part of this cabinet. Upon the formation of the cabinet on 12 August, the new Minister of Labor Alberto Zelada would also be appointed to the position of Minister of Sanitation. Ten days later on 22 August, a dedicated Ministry of Health and Hygiene would be established with Alfredo Mollinedo appointed to head the position.

On 30 October, the National Convention would promulgate the new constitution. While the constitution would remain in effect until 1945, Busch would dismiss the national assembly on 24 April 1939 and declare himself dictator. Busch's presidency would come to an end four months later when he committed suicide. General Carlos Quintanilla would take hold of the presidency in the interim period and the majority of the Busch cabinet, save for Alfredo Mollinedo, Bernardo Navjas Trigo, Vicente Leyton, and Felipe Manuel Rivera, would be dismissed.

Established Ministries

Office of Sanitation (under Work and Social Security): Alberto Zelada, first holder from 12 August 1938 Ministry of Health and Hygiene: Alfredo Mollinedo (PSU), first holder from 22 August 1938

Gallery

Notes

References

Bibliography