Pérez Jiménez, Marcos, 1914-

Col. Marcos Pérez Jiménez came to power in Venezuela as part of a military junta that overthrew the government of democratically elected President R?mulo Gallegos in 1948. Once in power, Pérez Jiménez emerged as the strongman of the junta and assumed dictator status. After nearly ten years of rule, opposition groups persuaded the military to aid in his overthrow. In January 1958, the military took control of the government until popular elections decided R?mulo Betancourt as president in 1958. Pérez Jiménez fled the country and made his way to Miami, Florida.

Once in office, Romulo Betancourt initiated extradition proceedings in order to prosecute Pérez Jiménez for embezzlement and murder in Venezuela. The prosecution was central to Betancourt's domestic strategy and image as honest and anti-dictatorial. Reasons for the extradition were also personal; Betancourt had been ousted from office and exiled by Pérez Jiménez ten years earlier.

After four years of legal battles, Pérez Jiménez was extradited from Miami, Florida to stand trial in Caracas, Venezuela.

From the guide to the Marcos Pérez Jiménez Extradition Proceedings, 1950-1958, (University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research.)