Ríos Montt, Efraín (1927- )

Guatemalan soldier and right-wing politician, president 1982-83. He launched a crackdown against corruption and guerrilla and left-wing activity, with thousands of native Indians being killed by the armed forces. Unpopular because of this repression and his Protestant fundamentalist beliefs, in what is a predominantly Catholic country, Ríos Montt was overthrown and forced into exile by an August 1983 coup led by General Oscar Humberto Mejía Victores.

A professional soldier from 1943, Ríos Montt rose to become a general and army chief of staff. He made an unsuccessful presidential bid in 1974, as candidate of the Christian Democrat-led National Opposition Front (FNO), but secured power in March 1982, after leading, along with younger right-wing army officers, a coup to seize power after a disputed presidential election. Ríos Montt swiftly dissolved the ruling junta and installed himself as president.

He returned to fight the 1990-91 presidential elections, but was debarred since the constitution prevented coup leaders from standing. However, he gave his backing to his protégé Jorge Serrano Elias, who was elected.