Francisco Urcuyo

Acting President of Nicaragua

30 July 1915 Rivas, Nicaragua

14 September 2001(2001-09-14) (86) Managua, Nicaragua

17 July 1979 – 18 July 1979

Francisco Urcuyo Maliaños (30 July 1915 – 14 September 2001) was a Nicaraguan politician, who served as Vice President of Anastasio Somoza Debayle from May 1967 to May 1972. He was born in Rivas. Urcuyo was the president of the lower chamber of National Congress of Nicaragua 1972–1973 and 1978–1979. In 1979 he was handpicked by Somoza as successor to the presidency. Urcuyo became acting president of Nicaragua for a single day from 17 to 18 July 1979, following the resignation of Somoza on 17 July. Upon taking office, he announced his intention to serve out the remainder of Somoza's term. This announcement provoked a strong reaction from the Sandinistas, other Latin American states, and the Carter Administration in the U.S. Recognizing the untenability of his situation, Urcuyo fled to Guatemala on 18 July, effectively handing the country over to the Sandinista junta.