The presidential elections in Bolivia in the two years between 1979 and 1981 were unfair and marred by fraud. Coups and counter-coups were a regular feature in the political scenario in Bolivia at that time. General Luiz Garcia Meza Tejada (born in La Paz on August 8, 1932), a notorious Bolivian dictator, took over as the 68th president of Bolivia on July 17, 1980, following an infamous and ruthless coup that did not have much support among the masses in Bolivia. He appeased his countrymen by saying he would stay in office for only one year. He completed one term and broke his promise, but that hunger for power was short-lived as he was deposed soon after, following a military rebellion.

He was succeeded as president by Celso Torrelio on August 4, 1981 after 13 months in power. He was a brutal dictator and is allegedly responsible for instigating the Bolivian army to kill an estimated 1,000 people during his tenure in office. Other notorious crimes committed by General Garcia Meza during his stint as president include gross abuse of human rights, drug trafficking and mismanagement of the country's funds. He was convicted in absentia and sentenced for a 30-year-term for his crimes.