in 1975 another General and President, Juan Alberto Melgar, named Callejas Minister for Agriculture and Natural Resources.

He supported former President Ricardo Maduro's Unidad y Cambio (Unity and Change) movement within the PNH that brought the party more towards the center, and a liberal economic path.

During his tenure, Honduras qualified for all major football soccer competitions in all age brackets, including the Summer Olympics.

[citation needed] His election in 1989 marked the first time since 1932 that power was transferred peacefully between Honduras' two major parties.

Instead, people were given back devalued Lempiras causing a great deal of hardship in what was already one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere.

Gasoline supplies were non-existent when he took office and long lines of cars were seen at the gas stations trying to obtain fuel.

This led to many strikes and a lot of social agitation, until his government successfully negotiated with the United States the write-off of a $US430 million debt, in September 1991.

Infrastructure was a priority and large investments in the rich Sula Valley area were made resulting in more than 90 kilometers of four-lane highways.