ABSTRACT
JAIME LUSINCHI (President, February 2, 1984-February 2, 1989). Jaime Lusinchi was born in Clarenes, Anzoategui State, on May 27, 1924. He attended the Central University of Venezuela, where he studied medicine. He
joined the Democratic Action party in 1941. Lusinchi was arrested following the right-wing military coup in November of 1948 and was sent into exile after his release. He traveled throughout South America and lived in Argentina and Chile before continuing his medical studies in the United States. He returned to Venezuela following the ouster of Marcos Perez Jimenez in January of 1958. Lusinchi was elected to the Chamber of Deputies the following year. He served as leader of the Democratic Action party's parliamentary group from 1968 until 1978. He was an unsuccessful candidate for president in 1977 and was elected to the Senate in 1979. He was selected as leader of the party in 1980. He was the party's presidential nominee in 1983 and defeated former President Rafael Caldera in elections in December of 1983. He was sworn into office as president on February 2,1984. Venezuela's economic condition continued to deteriorate during Lusinchi's presidency. He completed his term of office on February 2, 1989. He remained a leader of a faction of the Democratic Action party.
