Stroessner Matiauda, Alfredo (1912–2006)

Paraguayan military dictator and president 1954–89. As head of the armed forces from 1951, he seized power from President Federico Chávez in a coup in 1954, sponsored by the right-wing ruling Colorado Party. Accused by his opponents of harsh repression, his regime spent heavily on the military to preserve his authority. Despite criticisms of his government's civil-rights record, he was re-elected seven times and remained in office until ousted in an army-led coup in 1989, after which he gained asylum in Brazil.

After assuming power in 1954, he declared a state of siege and suspended constitutional freedoms. These remained suspended throughout his period in power, but were lifted during elections, which were managed to ensure that he reamined in power. A fierce anticommunist, he believed that his authoritarian approach was needed to defend the country. His anticommunism ensured good relations with the USA. He supported large infrastructure projects, such as the building of Itaipu Dam, the world's largest hydroelectricity plant, but his government became beset with corruption.

The son of an immigrant from Germany, he joined the Paraguayan army in 1929, fought in the Chaco War against Bolivia in 1932 and rose quickly to become a brigadier and the youngest general officer in South America in 1948. The motive for his 1954 coup was his opposition to President Federico Chávez's plans to arm the national police.