Roberto Suazo Córdova

Roberto Suazo Córdova (17 March 1927[2] – 22 December 2018)[3] was the President of Honduras from 1982 until 1986.[4] Suazo Córdova died on 22 December 2018 following an ulcer surgical operation at the age of 91.[5]

Roberto Suazo Córdova
Sketch of Roberto Suazo Córdova
President of Honduras
In office 27 January 1982 – 27 January 1986
Vice President	Marcelino Ponce Martínez
Preceded by	Policarpo Paz García (provisional)
Succeeded by	José Azcona del Hoyo
Personal details
Born	17 March 1927 La Paz, La Paz, Honduras
Died	22 December 2018 (aged 91) Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Nationality	Honduran
Political party	Liberal Party of Honduras
Spouse(s)	Aida Zacapa (died 30 December 2008)[1]
Alma mater	University of San Carlos of Guatemala
Profession	Politician; surgeon; physician

Presidency

In 1981, Suazo Córdova was the President of the National Constituent Assembly that drew up the 1982 Honduran Constitution.[6] He won a clear majority as a member of the Liberal Party of Honduras and became president in January 1982. The Liberal victory surprised many who believed the armed forces would interfere in favor of its erstwhile National Party allies. Colonel Gustavo Álvarez Martínez became head of the armed forces. The Reagan administration put heavy pressure on Honduras to assist in U.S. efforts against the Nicaragua's Sandinistas and El Salvador's guerrillas operating in Honduras. A U.S military spokesman neatly summarized the U.S. appraisal of the situation: "Honduras is the keystone to our policy down there". Suazo and Alvarez accepted U.S. troops on continuous "maneuvers", the construction and expansion of military bases and facilities, and even U.S. training of Salvadoran troops within Honduras. Honduras provided sanctuary and overt cooperation to the Contra army the United States was developing to attack Nicaragua's Sandinista government. Honduras thus became the active ally of the U.S. military strategy for Nicaragua and El Salvador. The country was described at the time as an aircraft carrier—the "USS Honduras". In exchange, Honduras received hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S assistance—especially military aid.[4]

References

1. "Murió esposa del ex presidente Suazo Córdova". Diario La Prensa.
2. Corke, Bettina (1984). Quién es quién en la política y los gobiernos de América Latina. Decade Media Books. (in Spanish)
3. "Honduran president during US-funded 'Contra' war on Nicaragua dies". au.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
4. "Nueva administración creará y desaparecerá ministerios". Archived from the original on 22 January 2010.
5. "Expresidente hondureño Roberto Suazo Córdova muere a los 91 años". Diario La Prensa.
6. "Presidentes del Congreso Nacional 1900-2014". 11 August 2015.

Political offices
Preceded by Policarpo Paz (Provisional)	President of Honduras 1982–1986	Succeeded by José Azcona