36 Facts About Rafael Franco

Rafael de la Cruz Franco Ojeda was a Paraguayan military officer, politician and statesman who served as President of Paraguay after the February Revolution, from February 20,1936, to August 13,1937.

Rafael Franco was the historical leader and founder of the National Revolutionary Party.

Rafael Franco was the son of Federico Franco and Marcelina Ojeda.

Rafael Franco's father was a professor of mathematics at the School of Agronomy, founded by Moises Santiago Bertoni, and in 1940 she was transferred to San Lorenzo.

Rafael Franco was married to Deidamia Solalinde and they had six children.

On May 9,1921, Rafael Franco was promoted to first lieutenant in the infantry and, on August 13 of the same year he was appointed commander of the machine gun group, with its seat in Asuncion.

Rafael Franco was commander of Infantry Regiment No 5 under General Eduvigis Diaz, based in Bahia Negra.

Rafael Franco was assigned important tasks, such as training new cadres of officers or troops.

In 1928, acting without orders, Major Rafael Franco led an attack that seized and destroyed a Bolivian fort in the Chaco that had been constructed inside Paraguayan territory.

Rafael Franco was later removed from his command for this action.

Rafael Franco soon developed a tactic of using long-range patrols to explore weaknesses in the enemy lines.

Rafael Franco later became the director of Paraguay's Military School At the end of the war, Rafael Franco participated in the Victory Parade as commander of the Second Corps, where the Asuncion crowd received him in the streets with acclamation.

Rafael Franco suffered a leg injury, which left him with a limp, due to an accident in his last years at the Military College, when he fell from a horse in the basement of the Cabildo.

Rafael Franco was a founder and historic leader of Revolutionary Febrerista Party, a full member of the Socialist International.

Rafael Franco took command of the Second Corps, and played an important part in defining the Army campaign during the Chaco war, during fighting at Picuiba and Yrendague and his Corps took Carandayty, Charagua and Ingavi.

Rafael Franco was critical of President Eusebio Ayala during the aftermath of the Chaco War.

Rafael Franco would serve from February 20,1936, to August 13,1937.

Rafael Franco's government set the work day at 8 hours per day, made Sunday a mandatory day off, introduced the requirement that wage earners receive holidays, and limited the work week to 48 hours.

Rafael Franco proposed that the state should be involved in any oil exploration.

Rafael Franco's government set a base price for certain key commodities such as cotton.

The Rafael Franco government provided access to Paraguay's first Japanese settlers, and facilitated the return of Paraguayan prisoners of war from Bolivia.

Rafael Franco undertook to restructure and modernize Paraguay's armed forces and sell weapons that had become worn-out or obsolete.

Rafael Franco's government sought to acquire 60 Italian military aircraft in readiness for any threats from Paraguay's neighbours and in light of the serious developments then transpiring in Europe.

Rafael Franco maintained an adamant stance of not ceding any territory conquered by the Paraguayan army in the Chaco War.

Rafael Franco claimed the ideals of the Revolution Communards and the Independence Revolution.

Rafael Franco's government halted construction of the Oratory of Our Lady of the Assumption and re-established it as the National Pantheon of Heroes.

The Rafael Franco government repealed the 1870 Constitution and parliament, and called for a National Constituent Assembly to draft a new and updated Great Charter.

The Rafael Franco government created two new ministries for Public Health and Agriculture, respectively.

Rafael Franco created two political formations to support his agenda, the Liga Nacional Independiente and the Union Nacional Revolucionaria.

The Rafael Franco government abolished entrance exams for National Schools and repealed fees on primary- and secondary-school studies.

Rafael Franco would spend more than 20 years outside the country, only returning briefly to Paraguay in 1946 under an amnesty before fleeing again amidst accusations of conspiracy.

From Uruguay, Rafael Franco supported a 1947 uprising against Morinigo but denied involvement in a 1956 plot against Alfredo Stroessner.

Rafael Franco continued his moderate opposition to Alfredo Stroessner's government through the Revolutionary Febrerista Party, which was legalized in 1964.

Rafael Franco's health had been deteriorating in his late 70s.

In September 1973, Rafael Franco entered the Hospital Americano because of his serious condition and did not come out alive.

Rafael Franco was visited by Colonel Arturo Bray, with whom he maintained an enmity over 30 years.