In 1910, President Pedro Montt Montt, seriously ill, took a leave of absence and moved to Germany for treatment, which proved unsuccessful, and Fernández, as Minister of the Interior, served during Montt's absence and became acting president upon Montt's death on August 16, 1910.
In 1910, President Pedro Montt, who was seriously ill, took a leave to Germany for treatment that failed, and Fernández, as Minister of the Interior, acted as president during Montt's absence following his death on August 16, 1910.