Ricardo Pérez Godoy was a Peruvian general and politician who played a significant role in modern Peruvian history as the leader of the military junta that took power following the 1962 coup. Born on May 9, 1905, in Lima, Pérez Godoy pursued a military career, steadily rising through the ranks to become a division general in the Peruvian army. He is best known for briefly leading Peru as the de facto president from 1962 to 1963.
In 1962, Peru was engulfed in a political crisis following a contentious presidential election, with allegations of electoral fraud against the candidates. In response to this instability, Pérez Godoy, who was serving as the general commander of the Peruvian army at the time, led a military coup on July 18, 1962, overthrowing President Manuel Prado Ugarteche. Pérez Godoy assumed leadership of a military junta with the support of other high-ranking officers, including General Nicolás Lindley.
Pérez Godoy took on the role of president with a promise to restore order and return to democracy by organizing new elections. However, during his brief time in power, he faced internal tensions within the military junta and increasing opposition from segments of civil society concerned about the prolongation of military rule. Despite his public commitment to restoring democracy, his government was seen as indecisive, particularly due to delays in implementing promised reforms.
Facing growing pressure and internal divisions within the junta, Pérez Godoy was overthrown in March 1963 by General Nicolás Lindley, who assumed leadership of the military government. Unlike Pérez Godoy, Lindley quickly organized presidential elections, leading to the victory of Fernando Belaúnde Terry. Following his ousting, Pérez Godoy withdrew from the political scene and did not play an active role in Peruvian politics thereafter.
Ricardo Pérez Godoy passed away on July 26, 1982. Though his time in power was brief, he presided over a critical period in Peru’s political history. His leadership was characterized by efforts to maintain order in the face of political unrest, but he ultimately failed to consolidate his authority due to internal conflicts within the military and mounting demands for a swift return to democracy.