General information
Type of Incompatibility: Government
Comment on Type of Incompatibility: The incompatibility concerns governmental power in Paraguay. The constitution defines Paraguay as a "representative democracy" with an executive President directly elected. Since taking power in a coup in 1954 President Stroessner had been declared the winner of the elections on eight consecutive occasions, most recently in February 1988. This election was denounced by foreign observers of widespread irregularities such as prevention of secret voting, stuffing of ballot boxes, intimidation by members of the ruling Colorado Party at the ballot station and a true voter turn out on less than 50 percent.
Date of first stated goal of incompatibility: 1989-02-03
Date of first use of armed force: 1989-02-03
Comment on first use of armed force: The revolt began when tanks from the First Army Corps, under Rodriguez control, rolled into the capital city and bombarded headquarters of the police and the presidential guard.
Date of first battle related death: 1947-03-01
Date of conflict reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1947-03-31
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1989
Primary Parties: Government of Paraguay - Military faction (forces of Andres Rodriguez)
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 300 |
| Best | 150 |
| Low | 17 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2006
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2010
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 7 |
| Best | 7 |
| Low | 7 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2011
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 2 |
| Best | 2 |
| Low | 2 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2012
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 2 |
| Best | 2 |
| Low | 2 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2013
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1 |
| Best | 1 |
| Low | 1 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2014
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 9 |
| Best | 9 |
| Low | 9 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2015
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 6 |
| Best | 6 |
| Low | 6 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2016
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1 |
| Best | 1 |
| Low | 1 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2020
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 5 |
| Best | 5 |
| Low | 5 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2021
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 4 |
| Best | 4 |
| Low | 4 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2022
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: Internal
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 3 |
| Best | 3 |
| Low | 3 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Conflict Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1989 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: After 34 years of uninterrupted dictatorial rule President Alfredo Stroessner was overthrown in a violent coup on 3 February 1989. The coup was lead by General Andres Rodriguez, second in command of the armed forces, and a former ally of the President.
The coup had its background in a division within the ruling ANR-PC, over among other things the issue of who would succeed Stroessner as President. The pro-Stroessner faction, known as the "militants", had in the previous two years largely succeeded in the process of displacing from power the opposition factions within the party, known as the "traditionalist". General Rodriguez, in charge of the coup represented the latter faction, and was himself faced with the imminent transfer from the central post of First Army Commander to the "passive" post of Defence minister.
Following the coup General Rodriguez was immediately sworn in as Interim President, and announced his cabinet the same day. Presidential and congressional elections were set for 1 May. The opposition parties, banned for a long time, said the time limit provided them no time for mobilization. General Rodriguez furthermore secured himself the position as the new Commander in Chief over the Armed Forces. To secure the armys loyalty he dismissed an estimated 49 general and colonels associated with the former President and promoted generals from lower positions.
The ousted president was held in custody by the coup makers, before being granted temporary asylum in Brazil. About 100 of Stroessners associates were also arrested, including 35 former officials and congressmen.
Presidential and congressional elections were held on 1 May as scheduled, and were considered by international observers to be relatively free and open. General Rodriguez won with 74.18 percent of the votes. His party, the Partito Colorado, also won 2/3 of the seats in parliament.
The new government was recognized by the central actors in the region: the US President as well as the President of Chile, Uruguay.
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: "The estimates of casualties in the coup varies. The first government statement spoke of 17 killed, but this was later corrected to ""no more than 50"". Western diplomats estimated the number of battle related deaths to be more than 300. Most sources refer to about 150 deaths in the five hour long pitched battle, involving soldiers from the elite 1st Army Corps, backed by 40 to 50 tanks."
Negotiations: NO
Third party involvement: NO
Victory: YES
Victory side: b
Comment on Victory: President Stroessner was ousted from power, and General Rodriguez, orchestrating the coup, was immediately sworn in as Interim President. Rodriguez won the following Presidential election on 1 May 1989.
The ousted president was held in custody by the coup makers, before being granted temporary asylum in Brazil. About 100 of Stroessners associates were also arrested, including 35 former officials and congressmen.
General Rodriguez also secured himself the position as the new Commander in Chief over the Armed Forces. He provided for the loyalty of the army by dismissing about 49 high ranking officers and replace them with new persons from lower positions.
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: Victory
Date of termination: 1989-02-03
Comment on Termination: President Stroessner was ousted from power, and General Rodriguez, orchestrating the coup, was immediately sworn in as Interim President. Rodriguez won the following Presidential election on 1 May 1989.
The ousted president was held in custody by the coup makers, before being granted temporary asylum in Brazil. About 100 of Stroessners associates were also arrested, including 35 former officials and congressmen.
General Rodriguez also secured himself the position as the new Commander in Chief over the Armed Forces. He provided for the loyalty of the army by dismissing about 49 high ranking officers and replace them with new persons from lower positions.
Comment on Termination Date: According to the news reporting the fighting was restricted to a five hour pitched battle in the capital city.
2006 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2010 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2011 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2012 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2013 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2014 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2015 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2016 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2020 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2021 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2022 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
