José María Lemus

Who was José María Lemus?

Lieutenant Colonel José María Lemus Lopez was President of El Salvador 14 September 1956 - 26 October 1960.

He was a military ruler and member of the Party of Democratic Unification. He put into law the Tenant Law, over people renting and the renters of houses or "Mesones, called also Vecindades". He stated in the law that people cannot increase the rent more than 10% every year and made Rent Contract in houses obligatory with the objective of protecting the renter. He was overthrown in a bloodless coup and a new, short-lived Junta government was formed consisting of three military and three civilian