-
He was the first liberal to hold office after the conservative hegemony in power, a period known as the Conservative Hegemony. Olaya Herrera became president representing a bipartisan coalition known as the National Concentration. He belonged to a liberal family and as such participated in the Thousand Days War. -
Enrique Alfredo Olaya Herrera (Guateque, November 12, 1880-Rome, February 18, 1937) was a Colombian journalist, lawyer, diplomat and politician. He was president of Colombia between August 7, 1930 and August 7, 1934 Member of the Colombian Liberal Party.
-
- Economic Recovery Efforts: Focused on stabilizing the economy amid the Great Depression through loans and promoting coffee exports.
- Labor Policies: Initial support for workers' demands, though labor strikes increased as frustrations with poor working conditions persisted.
-
- Colombia-Peru War: A brief conflict erupted over the Leticia region. The war ended with a peaceful settlement mediated by the League of Nations, restoring Colombian control.
-
- Growing Social Movements: Public discontent with unmet social demands continued, setting the stage for the more radical reforms of the next administration.
-
In his first term he became known for his progressive measures, including a constitutional reform in 1936 that gave private property a social function, and in general for his government known as the Revolution on the March. -
Alfonso López Pumarejo (Honda, Tolima, January 31, 1886-London, November 20, 1959) was a Colombian businessman, politician, thinker and diplomat. He was president of Colombia in two periods: first between August 7, 1934 and August 7, 1938; then between August 7, 1942 and August 7, 1945. Member of the Colombian Liberal Party.
-
- "Revolución en Marcha": Launched a progressive reform agenda to modernize the economy and address social inequalities.
- Educational Reform (1935): Strengthened public, secular education, weakening the influence of the Catholic Church in schools.
- Labor Reforms: Legalized labor unions and strikes, empowering workers to negotiate better conditions.
-
- Constitutional Reform: Amended the constitution to allow the government to expropriate land and regulate private property for public interest.
- Agrarian Reform: Promoted land redistribution to legalize smallholders' claims, though the implementation faced resistance from landowners.
-
- Opposition from Conservatives and Landowners: Rising backlash from traditional elites slowed the reform momentum.
-
He held the position of president of the Republic of Colombia between 1938 and 1942, in the government known as The Great Pause, in contrast to the Revolution on the March model of his predecessor and rival Alfonso López Pumarejo. As president, he managed to keep Colombia neutral during World War II until the United States entered the war at the end of 1941. -
Eduardo Santos Montejo (Bogotá, August 28, 1888-Bogotá, March 27, 1974) was a Colombian lawyer, politician, humanist and journalist.4 He was president of Colombia between August 7, 1938 and August 7, 1942. Member of the Colombian Liberal Party.
-
- Shift Toward Moderation: Scaled back the more radical reforms to reduce tensions with the Church and landowners.
-
- World War II Neutrality: Colombia maintained neutrality early in the war but later aligned with the Allied Powers by 1942.
- Economic Stabilization: Focused on managing inflation and boosting coffee exports to mitigate the impact of the global crisis.
- Internal Party Divisions: Growing rifts within the Liberal Party began to emerge, weakening political unity.
-
- Second Reform Attempt: Tried to reintroduce labor and economic reforms, but faced stronger opposition from Conservatives and some Liberals.
-
During his second presidential term, the division of the Liberal Party and the tenacious conservative opposition undermined the president's ability to maneuver and increased general discontent, to the point that in 1944 he was imprisoned for two days in San Juan de Pasto by the rebel colonel Diógenes. Gil, although this conspiracy failed. Despite this, he was forced to resign in 1945.
-
-
- Coup Attempt: A military coup attempt in Pasto forced López Pumarejo to flee temporarily. Though the coup failed, it exposed the fragility of his government.
-
- Resignation: Increasing political instability and pressure forced López Pumarejo to resign.
-
- Political Stabilization: Focused on easing tensions and preparing for the 1946 elections.
- Transition to Conservative Rule: Lleras Camargo ensured a peaceful transition, though divisions within the Liberal Party weakened its electoral prospects.
-
From 1946 onwards, Colombia has been ruled by a diverse class of Presidents. Some have been liberal, others conservative and, the majority, have been more central (Neither liberal nor conservative) -
Conservative candidate Mariano Ospina Pérez won the presidency, marking the end of the Liberal Republic and the beginning of political polarization that would contribute to La Violencia in the late 1940s.