Bernardino Bilbao Rioja (20 May 1895 in Arampampa – 13 May 1983 in La Paz)[1] was a Bolivian officer who served during the Chaco War (1932–35). He pioneered the use of air forces in combat (the first to be used in this capacity in South America).
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (January 2013) |
Bernardino Bilbao Rioja | |
|---|---|
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| Birth name | Bernardino Bilbao Rioja |
| Born | 20 May 1895 Arampampa, Potosí, Bolivia |
| Died | 13 May 1983 (aged 87) La Paz, Bolivia |
| Allegiance |  Bolivia |
| Service |  Bolivian Army Bolivian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1918–1939 |
| Rank | General |
| Battles / wars |
|
| Alma mater | Military College of the Army |
| Spouse(s) | Phyllis Grace Smith |
| Relations | José Bilbao Pastos (father) Andrea Rioja (mother) |
| Minister of War and Colonization | |
| In office 2 July 1930 – 5 March 1931 | |
| President | Carlos Blanco Galindo |
| Preceded by | Fidel Vega |
| Succeeded by | José Leonardo Lanza |
| Minister of Development and Communications | |
| In office 2 July 1930 – 5 March 1931 | |
| President | Carlos Blanco Galindo |
| Preceded by | Carlos Banzer |
| Succeeded by | Froilán Zambrana |
Bilbao had already made enemies among his cohorts when he refused to participate in the 1930 coup against President of Bolivia Hernando Siles Reyes. This enmity led him to be vetoed for most major promotions within the military, both during the war and after. One of the reasons for the 1934 military uprising that toppled the Constitutional President Daniel Salamanca Urey was the latter's desire to replace the ineffective current commanders with Generals Lanza and Bilbao Rioja at the head of the army.
After the war, Bilbao's popularity converted him into a potential enemy to the aspirations of the likes of Col. David Toro Ruilova and Gen. Enrique Peñaranda. In particular, it was rumored that Bilbao would present himself in the 1940 elections against Peñaranda, a prospect that obviously troubled Peñaranda's supporters in the "Concordancia" (the agglomeration of most of the oligarchic, old-style parties united behind one candidate). Thus, Bilbao was promptly detained and then flown to exile in Chile. But he eventually returned, and indeed, ran for president in 1951 and 1966, both times representing the right-of-center Bolivian Socialist Falange. In the 1951 election, he placed third while Víctor Paz Estenssoro of the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement came first; the anti-system MNR and FSB won a combined majority of the vote, which was to be followed by the 1952 Revolution.
In 1966, he finished a distant second to René Barrientos. Despite losing both elections, he remained a popular and respected figure.
Bilbao Rioja died in La Paz on May 13, 1983, at age 87.
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