Venancio Víctor López Otazú (21 February 1862 – 11 August 1927) was a Paraguayan journalist, diplomat and professor of law.

[1] In 1864, the Triple Alliance War started, pitting Paraguay versus the much larger and populous nations of Brazil, Uruguay and, from 1865 onwards, Argentina.

The conflict was mostly fought on Paraguayan soil and led to great destruction for the country; it ended in 1870, but the foreign occupation lasted until 1876, when the final border agreement with Argentina was signed.

He joined the Colorado Party soon after returning; it concentrated most of those who had been on Solano López' side during the war.

Briefly, in 1899, he was made Minister of Justice, Religion and Education in Emilio Aceval's cabinet.