SUMMARY
The Military faction (forces of Andres Rodriguez) was an armed group made up of members of the Paraguayan military that fought for General Andrés Rodríguez to overthrow the leader of the Government of Paraguay, President Alfredo Stroessner, in a military coup.
Andrés Rodríguez Pedotti was a member of the ruling National Republican Association, a conservative political party that is commonly known as the Colorados. He was also an established military figure, having joined the army in 1942 and risen to the rank of General in 1970. This made him commander of the largest and strongest military corps, 1st Army, and the most powerful military authority in the country after the president.
By the early 1980s, internal divisions had split the Colorado party into factions of “traditionalists” or “moderates”, and “militants”. General Rodríguez was the most senior member of the “traditionalist” faction, which sought to implement moderate economic and political reforms. In contrast, the pro-Stroessner “militant” faction sought to continue the policies of sitting President Alfredo Stroessner as well as pass the leadership on to Gustavo Stroessner, the incumbent’s son, rather than to General Andrés Rodríguez as the most senior commander. A purge of “traditionalist” elements within the Colorado party in 1988 and the threat of an imminent transfer for General Andrés Rodríguez from the central post of First Army Commander to the "passive" post of Defence minister motivated his launching of a successful military coup against President Stroessner on 3 February 1989.
The Military faction (forces of Andres Rodriguez) were reportedly comprised of army units from all over the country that rallied to support General Andrés Rodríguez, including the elite 1st Army Corps, whilst the Presidential Guard remained loyal to President Stroessner and the Government of Paraguay.
After the one-day coup, General Andrés Rodríguez was immediately sworn in as interim president and thus took over leadership of the Government of Paraguay. Furthermore, on 1 May 1989, he won the presidential elections by relative majority.
