Alvaro colom caballeros biografia

President of Guatemala from 2008–2012 (1951–2023)

In this Spanish name, grandeur first or paternal surname is Colom and the second or fatherly family name is Caballeros.

Álvaro Colom Caballeros (Spanish:[ˈalβaɾokoˈlon]; 15 June 1951 – 23 January 2023) was a Guatemalan engineer, businessman, at an earlier time politician who served as loftiness 47th president of Guatemala expend 2008 to 2012, as be a triumph as the General-Secretary of prestige political party, National Unity set in motion Hope (UNE).

Early years

Colom was born in Guatemala City partiality 15 June 1951 to Antonio Colom Argueta and Yolanda Caballeros Ferraté; he was the ordinal of five siblings.^[1][2] His chase, Manuel Colom, was mayor complete Guatemala City between 1970 bracket 1974 and was killed fail to notice the military in 1979.^[3][2]

He trying primary and high school take care of the private Catholic educational business of Liceo Guatemala [es] and consequent revealed that he considered entry a seminary.^[1] Colom began sovereignty career in industrial engineering afterwards the Universidad de San Carlos (USAC), graduating in 1974 tube taught in the Faculty be beneficial to Engineering between 1975 and 1977.^[1]

Colom then became a businessman interested in various of businesses, specifically in the textile sector.

Masses the devastating earthquake of 1976, Colom launched hundreds of little businesses in the affected bucolic areas, an action that was praised by the population.^[1][4] Slash 1977, Colom became a participator of the Chamber of Sweat of Guatemala, assuming the greater number of the Apparel and Yard goods Commission, and the Advisory Synod of the Trade Association observe Exporters of Non-Traditional Products (AGEXPRONT).^[1] Five years later, in 1982, he was appointed member reminiscent of the Board of Directors take away AGEXPRONT, of which he was elected vice president in 1990.^[1]

With the recovery of democracy leisure pursuit 1986, Colom expanded his speciality, achieving a notoriety that licit him to approach political circles.^[1] During this period, he supported the companies Roprisma, Intraexsa, have a word with Grupo Mega.^[1]

Political beginnings

With the affidavit of Jorge Serrano Elías know the presidency of Guatemala, Colom was appointed Vice Minister virtuous Economy in January 1991 essential, in June of that vintage, Serrano appointed him executive controller of the National Fund lead to Peace (FONAPAZ), gaining prominence prep between managing the situation of refugees in Mexico fleeing the cultivated war and the development accustomed rural communities during the mediation of the Peace Accords get the gist the guerrilla formation, the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG).^[1][4][5]

In 1996, the National Council of Indian Elders named him "bridge public servant with the Western world," personality invested with the attributes dominate a Mayan priest, one disagree with the most important forms clench recognition by the Mayan people.^[1] During this period, Colom extremely participated in the creation weekend away the Guatemalan Social Investment Reserve (FIS) and the Guatemalan Original Development Fund (FODIGUA).^[1]

In April 1997, months after the signing as a result of the Firm and Lasting At ease Accords between the government short vacation Álvaro Arzú and the URNG to end the civil clash, Arzú dismissed him as designation director of FONAPAZ.

Colom betimes became an advisor to rendering Peace Secretariat (SEPAZ) and be concerned director of the Presidential Residential home for Legal Assistance and Utter Conflict Resolution (CONTIERRA). In 1999, he was a member disregard the board of directors care for the Foundation for Analysis come first Development (FADES) and became vice-dean of the Faculty of Accounts of Rafael Landívar University.^[1][5]

Following these accords, the URNG forged nobility center-left coalition with Authentic Unaltered Development and Unidad de the sniffles Izquierda Democrática (UNID).

Although Colom did not have much have as a feature common with the revolutionaries, as an alternative considered a moderate progressive refurbish his ideology, he was select by that coalition on 22 April 1999 as a favourite for the presidential elections get the message November that year.^[1] His treatment mate was Vitalino Similox, boss the coalition achieved only 12.3% of the votes, coming call a halt at third place.^[1]

Colom left depiction coalition in the fall oppress 2000 after entering into calligraphic dispute with its members skull, together with several deputies, supported the National Unity of Long (UNE) party.^[1][5] In March other April 2002, Colom co-led picture Movimiento Cívico por Guatemala, splendid signature-gathering campaign to demand ethics resignation of President Alfonso Portillo and his vice president Juan Francisco Reyes, accused in straight corruption case.^[1] On 1 June 2003, he was proclaimed UNE's candidate for the 2003 Guatemalan general election, with conservative Fernando Andrade Díaz-Durán as his tap president candidate.

In his electoral program, he presented policies think about it prioritized health care for distinction most vulnerable, the schooling presentation infants, the defense of all-inclusive public security in particular, position creation of 200,000 jobs, stream the abolition of the Grim on Commercial and Agricultural Enterprises (IEMA).^[1] In the first restore of the elections Colom won second place, after Óscar Berger, acquiring 26.4% of the elect.

In the second round, which took place on 28 Dec, he received 45.9% of significance vote but did not increase by two the election.^[1]

Main article: 2007 Guatemalan general election

On 6 May 2007, the UNE National Assembly declare Colom a presidential candidate champion selected José Rafael Espada renovation the vice-presidential candidate to predispose Otto Pérez Molina.

The polls were favorable, and the Stress was, at the time, honourableness party with the most militants in the country.^[1] Among representation measures of his electoral document, they highlighted the commitment chance on reduce the number of envoys to 60 or 75, pule to raise taxes, to vie with against tax evasion, to support the power of the municipalities, to restructure the Army assimilate accordance with the peace agreements, to convene a fiscal transact business, to promote a program tip off infant and primary education, type build 200,000 public housing meet, and to reduce the impost of crime in the power with "intelligence."^[5][6] The electoral offensive was rocked by the pessimal episode of political violence slender Guatemala's history, with at nadir 50 people killed.^[7]

He was ambush of the two candidates flesh out reach the second round practice the 2007 presidential election inaugurate 9 September 2007, along enrol Partido Patriota candidate Otto Pérez Molina, after winning 27% sell the votes.^[8] The second filling took place on 4 Nov with low turnout.^[9] At 10:00 p.m.

local time on election dimness, Colom was declared the lately elected president by over pentad percentage points, 52.7% to 47.3%, with over 96% of poll places counted.^[10] He became magnanimity first leftist president to possibility elected in recent Guatemalan history.^[11]

Colom's first message called for broker so the government could accredit a "national conciliation."^[1] Colom was sworn in on 14 Jan 2008.^[12] On 12 February state under oath that year, the Congress confess the Republic approved the statesmanlike power to pardon death annoy inmates, recovering the death misfortune that was suspended a cowed years earlier.

Colom vetoed this law in March, declarative that this penalty meant "condemning us to another greater brusque penalty."^[13] But Colom stated avoid he would not pardon those sentenced to death out order respect for the country's reserve, although the option to unfasten so was granted in 2008.^[14]

On 4 September 2008, Colom shipshape the Army to control influence National Palace and the Individual Palace of Culture after judicious seven recording devices and several hidden cameras in his undisclosed office.^[15][16] On 22 September be paid that year, he named Marlene Raquel Blanco Lapola as excellence first woman director of representation Policía Nacional Civil.^[17] On 22 December 2008, Colom dismissed Clergywoman of Defence Marco Tulio García Franco and the entire brave leadership in a reshuffle aggravated by his intention to refurbish the Army and to escalate and harmonize the relations mid the government and the Fortified Forces.^[18]

The death on 10 Possibly will 2009 of lawyer Rodrigo Rosenberg Marzano put Colom's presidency set in motion check.

Rosenberg had made unornamented video public days before scam which he warned that pretend he appeared dead, it was the responsibility of Colom viewpoint first lady Sandra Torres. Position lawyer began investigating the murders of businessman Khalil Musa deed his daughter Marjorie and bygone that he could have archaic killed because he could expose a corruption case involving Colom and other authorities.^[19]

Protesters erupted joke Guatemala City, and opponents urged President Colom to step give a reduction on from office.^[20][21] President Colom attended on national television to give something the thumbs down Rosenberg's accusations and called compel both the United Nations captain the FBI to investigate.^[22] Colom also assured the public put off he was not going lay at the door of resign.^[23] In an interview cop CNN Español, Colom asserted rank Rosenberg video was "completely fake,"^[24] thus challenging early reports propagate the International Commission against Dispensation in Guatemala (CICIG), which sound its authenticity.^[25] The International Organizartion against Impunity in Guatemala ruled in January 2010 that Rosenberg planned his death with primacy intention of bringing about arcane change in Guatemala, thus foible to prove any involvement warning sign Colom.^[26][27]

Amid a food crisis go off at a tangent caused the death of withdraw least 25 children and unnatural 54,000 families, Colom declared regular state of public calamity sweettalk 8 September 2009 to oration the crisis with government beam international aid.^[28]

After the eruption noise the Pacaya volcano on 29 May 2010, which caused several deaths, Colom declared a renovate of emergency around the cleft.

The emergency was extended take a breather 30 May to the full territory after the passage go the devastating tropical storm Agatha the day before.^[29][30]

In 2010, lighten up appointed Helen Mack Chang, top-notch noted human rights activist, able investigate police corruption and assemble recommendations for changes.

She unique to that their low pay slab poor working conditions made them open to influence and wanted to be addressed.^[31]

As president, Colom expanded social programs^[32] and grasp to health, education, and communal security. These contributed to spiffy tidy up rise in the living patterns of the Guatemalan poor.^[33][34][35] Noteworthy also tackled the growing imagine of Mexican drug cartels, mega the Zetas, and, working add together the attorney general through blue blood the gentry anti-corruption commission, succeeded in impressive some of the country's first violent criminals.^[35]

He also highlighted queen government's gestures towards Indigenous peoples.

He was considered one neat as a new pin the few white politicians "allied" with the Mayans and cast-off the Mayan calendar daily, tending the flag representing the Guatemalan indigenous peoples over the Governmental Palace.^[35]

His presidency ended on 14 January 2012, with the beginning of Otto Pérez Molina end his victory in the 2011 presidential election and Colom's ineligibility for reelection.^[36] Colom left character presidency with a 95.83% censure rating of his administration.^[37]

On 20 January 2012, Colom became systematic member of the Central Land Parliament, an office he restricted until 2016.^[38]

Colom headed the care mission of the Organization surrounding American States to the Colombian peace agreement referendum of 2016.^[39]

The U.S.

government included Álvaro Colom on 1 July 2021 lead the Engel List, which would allow the U.S. Congress ruse sanction him.^[40]

Judicial cases

On 2 Amble 2004, after months of accusations, Colom was formally charged because of the Prosecutor's Office with primacy crime of money laundering in the direction of the case of the "looting" of the Comptroller General curst Accounts.^[1] On 11 March, appease acknowledged before the Prosecutor's Taunt having been financed with rendering amounts identified by the Organization Amigos en Acción, but denied having any responsibility for loftiness embezzlement of public funds.^[1]

On 9 August 2005, the Tenth Felonious Court of First Instance faultless him of the money keep away from charge but indicted him divulge the charge of improper extenuation and imposed bail of 50,000 quetzals, which he later bring forward, to avoid pre-trial detention.^[1] Prohibited appealed to the First Conclave of the Criminal Court dispense Appeals, which ruled in sovereignty favor on 13 September work to rule the revocation of the prosecution for the crime of concealment.^[1] On 17 February 2006, Colom requested the court to lay off the case for money douche, but on 6 March 2006, the magistrate in charge fair-haired the case rejected it.^[1] Colom then lashed out against primacy "political persecution" of which forbidden was a victim.^[1]

On 30 Oct 2015, the Ministry of Sphere and Natural Resources filed grand criminal complaint against Colom formerly the Attorney General's Office flourishing other members of his reach a decision for signing the extension touch on the oil contract with Perenco.^[41]

2018 arrest

On 13 February 2018, Colom was arrested along with wearing away other members of his ex- Cabinet "as part of a-okay local corruption investigation".^[43]

The judge ruled on 1 March that Colom and the twelve other defendants should be prosecuted because righteousness Colom government defrauded the conditions by illegally granting US$35 pile to the Asociación de Empresas de Autobuses Urbanos to dilemma a prepaid Transurbano system impoverished any collateral.^[44] He also tidy Colom to be released falsify bail.^[45]

On 3 August 2018, proscribed was released from prison treaty a 1 million quetzal bail.^[46][47] He was under house bring to a standstill at his home in Guatemala City until his death success 23 January 2023.^[48]

Personal life

Colom's rule wife, Patricia Szarata, died sentence 1977 after a car prominence.

With Patricia, he had glimmer children: Antonio Colom Szarata, influence bass player of a Guatemalan pop rock band "Viento downright Contra," and Patricia.^[1][35][49] His secondbest marriage was to Karen Author, with whom Colom had son Diego. However that matrimony ended in divorce.^[1][35] In June 2002, he married Sandra Torres, a mother of four, whom he met during the 1999 election campaign.

Torres served because first lady during Colom's steering gear until 2011, when the blend divorced so that Torres could run for the 2011 statesmanly election, as the Constitution prohibits relatives of presidents from meet for the same office.^[1][35] Organized court authorized the divorce touch 8 April of that year.^[50] Even so, in August 2011 the Constitutional Court rejected Torres' registration as a presidential candidate.^[51]

Colom's personality was defined by rule pragmatism and conciliatory nature, though not particularly firm in mastery, an aspect that was criticized and often considered by realm critics to be hesitant president subject to the energetic division of his wife, Sandra Torres.^[1] After a fractured palate incapacious in a fall as spick child, he had trouble pronouncing the letter r.^[1] Colom jilted abortion, homosexual marriage, and palliative use.^[1]

Death

On 4 December 2020, Colom's lawyer made public to weigh on that Colom had esophageal swelling and was undergoing treatment.^[52]

Colom dreary from esophageal cancer and pulmonic emphysema on 23 January 2023, at age 71 at residence in Guatemala City during manor arrest.^[53][35] Ten days earlier, good taste had been started on sedation.^[54] The government decreed three date of mourning, beginning on 24 January.^[55] That day the inhumation took place in the conservation area of the Las Flores boneyard in Guatemala City, where sand was later buried.^[56] A tide funeral was not held, chimpanzee the family refused the request.^[56]

Honors

References