Tomás Monje

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Monje and the second or maternal family name is Gutierréz.

Tomás Monje
41st President of Bolivia
Interim
In office 17 August 1946 – 10 March 1947
Vice President	Vacant
Preceded by	Néstor Guillén (interim)
Succeeded by	Enrique Hertzog
Personal details
Born	Tomás Monje Gutierréz (1884-12-21)21 December 1884 Coroico, Bolivia
Died	1 July 1954(1954-07-01) (aged 69) La Paz, Bolivia
Spouse	Raquel Soria Galvarro
Parent(s)	Seferino Monje Saturnina Gutierréz
Signature

Tomás Monje Gutierréz (21 December 1884 – 1 July 1954) was a Bolivian judge who served as the 41st president of Bolivia on a de facto interim basis from 1946 to 1947.

Background and earlier career

Born in Coroico, La Paz Department, he was a noted intellectual and judge. He served as deputy minister of agriculture 1926-27, after which he was appointed minister of the government and justice. From 1930 until 1936, he was Attorney general.

President of Bolivia

In his capacity as head of the Bolivian Supreme Court, he was named President by the forces that toppled President Gualberto Villarroel via coup d'état on 21 July, 1946. Monje happened to be ill at the time, however, which is why his deputy, Néstor Guillén, filled in for him for 27 days, until Monje was well enough to be sworn in August of the same year. Very much a caretaker president, Monje Gutiérrez was in charge with the simple task of calling elections as soon as possible. This done, he transferred power to the winner of the January 1947 elections, the conservative Enrique Hertzog.

Post-Presidency and death

At that point, Monje returned to relative obscurity, dying in La Paz on 1 July, 1954.

Sources

• Mesa José de; Gisbert, Teresa; and Carlos D. Mesa, "Historia de Bolivia", 3rd edition. pp. 577–578.