The interim government of Octavio Lepage or the Acting Presidency of Octavio Lepage refers to Octavio Lepage’s tenure as the Acting President of Venezuela which 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 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, losing to Carlos Andrés Pérez.
After the Supreme Court requested Congress to impeach President Carlos Andrés Pérez, 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.
Cabinet Lepage's cabinet was a continuation of the . Lepage had intended to appoint a different cabinet if his mandate had been extended.
Domestic policy Lepage stated that his three priorities as president would be:
Lepage's presidency lasted fifteen days, generating dissension in Congress that favored the designation of Ramón J. Velásquez, a senator from the Democratic Action party representing Táchira State.
See also
Second presidency of Carlos Andrés Pérez Interim government of Ramón J. Velásquez
References