Juan Pablo Pérez Alfonzo: The father of OPEC (+birthday)

Born in Caracas, his parents were Juan Pablo Perez Betancourt and Carmen Alfonzo. He studied at the Central University of Venezuela (UCV), where he obtained a law degree and a Doctor of Political Science degree. He later held positions as secretary of the Venezuelan Bar Association and Trustee Municipal Attorney of Caracas; then he was elected councilor and deputy of the National Congress, a representation he held until 1939.

After the approval of the Hydrocarbons Law by the National Congress in 1943, Pérez Alfonzo was part of the minority that opposed the conditions imposed on the nation, especially the condition that contemplated the termination of any claim that could be submitted to companies exploiting such an important natural resource, such as oil. He then suffered exile, due to the overthrow of then-president Rómulo Gallegos.

Pérez returned to Venezuela in 1959 and was appointed by the Constitutional President of Venezuela, Rómulo Betancourt, minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons. At the time, Venezuela was the main exporter of crude oils, along with Arab countries.

That is why he proposed the creation of an organism that would allow greater control and better benefits of his unjustly exploited wealth. This proposal came to fruition on September 14, 1960, when the agreement creating OPEC was signed in the city of Baghdad, capital of Iraq.

The agreement was initially signed by Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Venezuela. Then Qatar, Libya, Indonesia, Abu Dhabi, Algeria, Nigeria, Ecuador and Gabon joined. From then on, Pérez Alfonso is recognized as the father of OPEC, a man who had a nationalist vision of the production and development of our lands and who did not want extortionist interference from other countries.

A pancreatic tumor that induced him to undergo treatment in Washington, where he was surprised to die on September 3, 1979.

Mazo News Team