Laugerud Garcia, Kjell Eugenio (1930- )

Guatemalan soldier and right-wing politician, president 1974-78. Standing as the candidate of the right-wing, army-backed Movement of National Liberation (MLN), he was elected president in 1974 in a rigged contest, defeating General Efraín Ríos Montt of the National Opposition Front (FNO) coalition. He held power during a period of heightened political violence, as the army brutally cracked down against left-wing guerrillas and political opponents.

He was succeeded as president, in 1978, by General Fernando Romeo Lucas García, also of the MLN, and his former defence minister.

Born in Guatemala City, Laugerud Garcia followed a military career and between 1970-74 served as defence minister and army chief of staff, under President Carlos Araña Osorio.