Rojas Pinilla, Gustavo (g

stä`vō rō`häs pēnē`yä), 1900–1975, president of Colombia (1953–57). As head of the armed forces he led the coup that ousted President Laureano Gómez in 1953. He ruled as a dictator, brutally suppressing all opposition. His attempted fiscal reforms failed, and his administration was riddled with corruption. In 1957 he was deposed by a military junta backed by both liberals and conservatives. He and his daughter, María Eugenia Rojas de Moreno (a senator), subsequently organized the National Popular Alliance, a political party with broad support among the urban poor. He ran for president in 1970, losing by only 1 1-2% of the vote. Ill health forced his retirement in 1973. His daughter ran unsuccessfully for president in 1974.

Rojas Pinilla, Gustavo

(born March 12, 1900, Tunja, Colom.—died Jan. 17, 1975, Bogotá) Soldier and dictator of Colombia (1953–57). He rose through the ranks of the army to seize power from the brutal regime of Laureano Gómez (b. 1889—d. 1965). Though he promised peace, justice, and liberty, he instead ruled by decree, silencing the opposition press, stirring up violence against Protestants, and embezzling government money. He was exiled and impeached but returned to form an opposition party and run for president. In 1970 he was narrowly defeated in elections he claimed were fraudulent; his supporters rioted and martial law was declared. His daughter sought the presidency in 1974 but was soundly defeated.