Francisco Morales Bermúdez was the 51st President of Peru who led the nation from 1975 to 1980. After seizing power in a military coup against Juan Velasco, he navigated a period of intense economic crisis. He is best known for overseeing the transition of Peru back to civilian governance and democratic elections.
The de facto presidency of Francisco Morales Bermúdez between 1975 and 1980 marked the conclusion of the Revolutionary Government of the Armed Forces in Peru. After ousting his predecessor, General Juan Velasco, in a military coup, he navigated a period of intense economic instability and political pressure that eventually necessitated a transition back to civilian governance.
Early Military Career
Born in Lima on 4 October 1921, Francisco Remigio Morales Bermúdez Cerruti followed a path typical of the Peruvian military elite. He attended the Colegio de la Inmaculada before entering the Chorrillos Military School in 1939. His training included significant involvement with the Center for Advanced Military Studies. Rising to the rank of brigadier general, he secured his first political appointment in 1968, serving briefly as Minister of Economy and Finance under Fernando Belaúnde.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Transition to Power
Following the 1968 coup that removed Belaúnde, the military government under Juan Velasco recalled him to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. He held this position until 1974, when he became Commander-in-Chief of the Peruvian Army. By 1975, he occupied the roles of both Prime Minister and Minister of War. On 29 August 1975, he executed a military coup against Velasco, citing the president's declining health as a primary justification.
Government and Economic Crisis
His tenure as president was defined by severe economic challenges and the onset of the Lost Decade. Initially hinting at socialist policies, he quickly abandoned the term, citing public confusion and ideological disagreements. His administration participated in Operation Condor, collaborating with the Argentine Intelligence Battalion 601. In 1978, he expelled the Chilean ambassador Francisco Bulnes Sanfuentes following a spying scandal and the execution of Julio Vargas Garayar. Facing mounting pressure, he oversaw the creation of a Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution before facilitating the 1980 elections that returned Fernando Belaúnde to power.
Legal Proceedings and Final Years
In his post-presidency, he remained active in public discourse, including an unsuccessful presidential bid in 1985. In 2017, the Corte d'Assise in Rome sentenced him to life imprisonment in absentia for the forced disappearance of 25 Italian citizens during Operation Condor. In 2021, he signed a letter urging the armed forces to reject the legitimacy of President-elect Pedro Castillo. He reached his 100th birthday in 2021 and passed away in Lima on 14 July 2022.
Fast facts
- Born: 4 October 1921, Lima
- Died: 14 July 2022, Lima
- President of Peru: 1975–1980
- Military Rank: General
- Education: Chorrillos Military School
- Award: Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
- Award: Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun of Peru
Questions readers ask
How did his presidency end?
He returned power to a democratically elected civilian government in 1980, led by Fernando Belaúnde, after 12 years of military rule.
Was he ever convicted of a crime?
Yes, in 2017 an Italian court sentenced him to life imprisonment in absentia for his involvement in the forced disappearance of 25 Italian citizens.
