WikiPeru • The Encyclopedia of Peru
Luis Miguel Sánchez Cerro, born on August 12, 1889, in Piura, was a Peruvian military officer and politician who served twice as president of Peru: first briefly in 1931 and then from 1931 to 1933. His presidency was marked by significant political instability, internal conflicts, and controversial reforms. He was also the first Peruvian president to be assassinated, in 1933.
Sánchez Cerro received military training and rose through the ranks in the Peruvian army. His political career began in earnest in 1930 when he led a military coup against the long-standing government of President Augusto B. Leguía, ousting him from power. Sánchez Cerro became the head of a provisional government and organized elections in 1931. He ran for president and won, backed by the military and conservative elites.
Once in office, Sánchez Cerro faced numerous challenges. His term was marked by growing tensions between conservative forces and populist and revolutionary movements, particularly the APRA (American Popular Revolutionary Alliance) led by Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre. Sánchez Cerro harshly repressed APRA, accusing the party of organizing revolts and attacks against the government. This led to widespread political violence, mass arrests, and summary executions.
Sánchez Cerro also attempted to reform the economy and modernize the country’s infrastructure, but these efforts were often overshadowed by political instability and internal divisions. His government repeatedly imposed states of emergency to maintain order, leading to a deterioration of civil liberties and political rights.
In 1932, Peru entered into a border conflict with Colombia over the Leticia region. This conflict further heightened internal tensions and weakened Sánchez Cerro’s government, which faced revolts both within the military and among civilians.
On April 30, 1933, while attending a military ceremony in Lima, Luis Miguel Sánchez Cerro was assassinated by a member of APRA, Abelardo Mendoza Leyva, who shot him at close range. His death plunged the country into further political uncertainty, and General Óscar R. Benavides soon took over as head of state.
Sánchez Cerro’s legacy is complex and controversial. While some view him as a leader who sought to restore order after a decade of instability, he is also criticized for his authoritarian rule and violent repression of political opposition, particularly APRA. His assassination reinforced the image of political instability in Peru during this period.