Molas López, Felipe 

Molas López, Felipe (Benigno) (b. 1901, Asunción, Paraguay - d. March 2, 1954, Asunción), president of Paraguay (1949). He was minister of education under Pres. Juan Natalicio González but was a chief instigator in his ouster in January 1949, having already helped to overthrow Pres. Higinio Morínigo in 1948. In February 1949, he became provisional president, unseating Raimundo Rolón. He formed a cabinet that for the first time in the 20th century included no military men. He reduced police and army forces, permitted the people to criticize his government, and extended an amnesty to political exiles, several thousand of whom returned to the country. As the only candidate, he was elected president in April and inaugurated in May. He was expected to finish González’ term, ending in 1953. But another upheaval in the ruling Colorado Party led to his resignation in September and his replacement by Federico Chaves.