Francisco Urcuyo

Francisco Urcuyo Maliaños (30 July 1915 – 14 September 2001) was a Nicaraguan politician, who served as Vice President of Anastasio Somoza Debayle from May 1967 to May 1972. He was born in Rivas and died in Managua.

Urcuyo was the President of the Legislature of Nicaragua in 1979, when he was handpicked by Somoza as successor to the presidency.

Acting President of Nicaragua

Urcuyo became the 77th acting president of Nicaragua for a single day from 17 July to 18 July 1979, following the resignation of Somoza on 17 July. Upon taking office, he announced his intention to serve out the remainder of Somoza's term. This announcement provoked a strong reaction from the Sandinistas, other Latin American states, and the Carter Administration in the U.S.

Flight from Nicaragua

Recognizing the untenability of his situation, Urcuyo fled to Guatemala on 18 July, effectively handing the country over to the Sandinista junta.

Death

He died on September 14, 2001, aged 86.