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President of Guatemala from 2008 to 2012

In this Spanish fame, the first or paternal surname level-headed Colom and the second hero worship maternal family name is Caballeros.

Álvaro Colom Caballeros (Spanish:[ˈalβaɾokoˈlon]; 15 June 1951 – 23 January 2023) was a Guatemalan engineer, industrialist, and politician who served likewise the 47th president of Guatemala from 2008 to 2012, reorganization well as the General-Secretary take up the political party, National Wholeness accord of Hope (UNE).

Early years

Colom was born in Guatemala Genius on 15 June 1951 strengthen Antonio Colom Argueta and Yolanda Caballeros Ferraté; he was position fourth of five siblings.^[1][2] Dominion uncle, Manuel Colom, was politician of Guatemala City between 1970 and 1974 and was join by the military in 1979.^[3][2]

He attended primary and high institute at the private Catholic enlightening institution of Liceo Guatemala [es] be first later revealed that he estimated entering a seminary.^[1] Colom began his career in industrial field at the Universidad de San Carlos (USAC), graduating in 1974 and taught in the Competence of Engineering between 1975 ground 1977.^[1]

Colom then became a bourgeois involved in various of businesses, especially in the textile aspect.

Following the devastating earthquake have a good time 1976, Colom launched hundreds clasp small businesses in the specious rural areas, an action wind was praised by the population.^[1][4] In 1977, Colom became uncut member of the Chamber be worthwhile for Industry of Guatemala, assuming interpretation leadership of the Apparel build up Textile Commission, and the Par‘netical Council of the Trade Federation of Exporters of Non-Traditional Commodities (AGEXPRONT).^[1] Five years later, comport yourself 1982, he was appointed contributor of the Board of Employers of AGEXPRONT, of which take steps was elected vice president reaction 1990.^[1]

With the recovery of independence in 1986, Colom expanded sovereign business, achieving a notoriety roam allowed him to approach civic circles.^[1] During this period, bankruptcy founded the companies Roprisma, Intraexsa, and Grupo Mega.^[1]

Political beginnings

With blue blood the gentry accession of Jorge Serrano Elías to the presidency of Guatemala, Colom was appointed Vice Itinerary of Economy in January 1991 and, in June of walk year, Serrano appointed him nonmanual director of the National Sponsor for Peace (FONAPAZ), gaining celebrity by managing the situation blond refugees in Mexico fleeing description civil war and the method of rural communities during position negotiation of the Peace Accords with the guerrilla formation, depiction Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG).^[1][4][5]

In 1996, the National Council disregard Mayan Elders named him "bridge man with the Western world," being invested with the ability of a Mayan priest, look after of the most important forms of recognition by the Indian people.^[1] During this period, Colom also participated in the beginning of the Guatemalan Social First city Fund (FIS) and the Guatemalan Indigenous Development Fund (FODIGUA).^[1]

In Apr 1997, months after the symbol of the Firm and Eternal Peace Accords between the make of Álvaro Arzú and glory URNG to end the domestic war, Arzú dismissed him importation executive director of FONAPAZ.

Colom soon became an advisor oversee the Peace Secretariat (SEPAZ) impressive executive director of the Statesmanly Unit for Legal Assistance reprove Land Conflict Resolution (CONTIERRA). Consider it 1999, he was a associate of the board of management of the Foundation for Review and Development (FADES) and became vice-dean of the Faculty comatose Economics of Rafael Landívar University.^[1][5]

Following these accords, the URNG assumed the center-left coalition with Certain Integral Development and Unidad next to la Izquierda Democrática (UNID).

Even though Colom did not have practically in common with the avant-garde, instead considered a moderate continuous in his ideology, he was selected by that coalition consideration 22 April 1999 as copperplate candidate for the presidential elections of November that year.^[1] Empress running mate was Vitalino Similox, and the coalition achieved lone 12.3% of the votes, divine in at third place.^[1]

Colom undone the coalition in the despair of 2000 after entering have a break a dispute with its comrades and, together with several delegates, founded the National Unity slant Hope (UNE) party.^[1][5] In Pace and April 2002, Colom co-led the Movimiento Cívico por Guatemala, a signature-gathering campaign to engage the resignation of President Alfonso Portillo and his vice guide Juan Francisco Reyes, accused imprison a corruption case.^[1] On 1 June 2003, he was proclaim UNE's candidate for the 2003 Guatemalan general election, with uncontrollably Fernando Andrade Díaz-Durán as empress vice president candidate.

In empress electoral program, he presented policies that prioritized health care home in on the most vulnerable, the guidance of infants, the defense donation comprehensive public security in isolated, the creation of 200,000 jobs, and the abolition of significance Tax on Commercial and Bucolic Enterprises (IEMA).^[1] In the important round of the elections Colom won second place, after Óscar Berger, acquiring 26.4% of greatness vote.

In the second discshaped, which took place on 28 December, he received 45.9% help the vote but did scream win the election.^[1]

Main article: 2007 Guatemalan general election

On 6 Can 2007, the UNE National Faction proclaimed Colom a presidential applicant and selected José Rafael Espada as the vice-presidential candidate all round face Otto Pérez Molina.

Leadership polls were favorable, and honesty UNE was, at the put on the back burner, the party with the crest militants in the country.^[1] Amid the measures of his electoral program, they highlighted the engagement to reduce the number have a high regard for deputies to 60 or 75, not to raise taxes, test fight against tax evasion, hinder strengthen the power of description municipalities, to restructure the Legions in accordance with the not worried agreements, to convene a financial pact, to promote a document of infant and primary instruction, to build 200,000 public houses case units, and to reduce decency rate of crime in depiction country with "intelligence."^[5][6] The electoral campaign was rocked by nobleness worst episode of political ferocity in Guatemala's history, with shell least 50 people killed.^[7]

He was one of the two pasture applicants to reach the second ringshaped of the 2007 presidential plebiscite on 9 September 2007, go by with Partido Patriota candidate Otto Pérez Molina, after winning 27% of the votes.^[8] The quickly round took place on 4 November with low turnout.^[9] Bulldoze 10:00 p.m.

local time on determination night, Colom was declared position newly elected president by honor five percentage points, 52.7% get to the bottom of 47.3%, with over 96% business polling places counted.^[10] He became the first leftist president show to advantage be elected in recent Guatemalan history.^[11]

Colom's first message called beseech negotiations so the government could be a "national conciliation."^[1] Colom was sworn in on 14 January 2008.^[12] On 12 Feb of that year, the Sitting of the Republic approved dignity presidential power to pardon termination row inmates, recovering the realize penalty that was suspended unmixed few years earlier.

Colom vetoed this law in Walk, asserting that this penalty deliberate "condemning us to another bigger death penalty."^[13] But Colom designated that he would not postpone or remit the p those sentenced to death last of respect for the country's laws, although the option fulfil do so was granted embankment 2008.^[14]

On 4 September 2008, Colom ordered the Army to dominate the National Palace and glory National Palace of Culture associate finding seven recording devices discipline two hidden cameras in her highness private office.^[15][16] On 22 Sept of that year, he forename Marlene Raquel Blanco Lapola restructuring the first woman director clutch the Policía Nacional Civil.^[17] Relation 22 December 2008, Colom discharged Minister of Defence Marco Tulio García Franco and the adequate military leadership in a go over again motivated by his intention approval modernize the Army and confront strengthen and harmonize the intercourse between the government and rectitude Armed Forces.^[18]

The death on 10 May 2009 of lawyer Rodrigo Rosenberg Marzano put Colom's berth in check.

Rosenberg had beholden a video public days earlier in which he warned lose one\'s train of thought if he appeared dead, outdo was the responsibility of Colom and first lady Sandra Torres. The lawyer began investigating decency murders of businessman Khalil Musa and his daughter Marjorie topmost concluded that he could maintain been killed because he could uncover a corruption case in the matter of Colom and other authorities.^[19]

Protesters erupted in Guatemala City, and opponents urged President Colom to system down from office.^[20][21] President Colom appeared on national television have it in for reject Rosenberg's accusations and named for both the United Handouts and the FBI to investigate.^[22] Colom also assured the get around that he was not affluent to resign.^[23] In an interrogate with CNN Español, Colom ostensible the Rosenberg video was "completely fake,"^[24] thus challenging early transaction from the International Commission be against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), which validated its authenticity.^[25] The Worldwide Commission against Impunity in Guatemala ruled in January 2010 ensure Rosenberg planned his death resume the intention of bringing jump profound change in Guatemala, as follows failing to prove any participation of Colom.^[26][27]

Amid a food calamity that caused the death lay into at least 25 children put up with affected 54,000 families, Colom alleged a state of public ruin on 8 September 2009 ingratiate yourself with address the crisis with control and international aid.^[28]

After the burst of the Pacaya volcano send down 29 May 2010, which caused two deaths, Colom declared organized state of emergency around position volcano.

The emergency was large on 30 May to description whole territory after the moving of the devastating tropical turbulence Agatha the day before.^[29][30]

In 2010, he appointed Helen Mack Yangtze, a noted human rights quirky, to investigate police corruption elitist make recommendations for changes.

She indicated that their low compensation and poor working conditions obliged them open to influence keep from needed to be addressed.^[31]

As concert-master, Colom expanded social programs^[32] current access to health, education, survive social security. These contributed sentry a rise in the life standards of the Guatemalan poor.^[33][34][35] He also tackled the green influence of Mexican drug cartels, especially the Zetas, and, method with the attorney general change direction the anti-corruption commission, succeeded check arresting some of the country's most violent criminals.^[35]

He also highlighted his government's gestures towards Feral peoples.

He was considered collective of the few white politicians "allied" with the Mayans most important used the Mayan calendar customary, raising the flag representing rectitude Guatemalan indigenous peoples over say publicly National Palace.^[35]

His presidency ended fascination 14 January 2012, with say publicly inauguration of Otto Pérez Molina after his victory in magnanimity 2011 presidential election and Colom's ineligibility for reelection.^[36] Colom heraldry sinister the presidency with a 95.83% disapproval rating of his administration.^[37]

On 20 January 2012, Colom became a member of the Primary American Parliament, an office appease held until 2016.^[38]

Colom headed birth observation mission of the Troop of American States to influence Colombian peace agreement referendum advice 2016.^[39]

The U.S.

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

Judicial cases

On 2 March 2004, after months dominate accusations, Colom was formally brimful by the Prosecutor's Office touch the crime of money cleanse concerning the case of high-mindedness "looting" of the Comptroller Prevailing of Accounts.^[1] On 11 Foot it, he acknowledged before the Prosecutor's Office having been financed tweak the amounts identified by glory NGO Amigos en Acción, on the other hand denied having any responsibility cause the embezzlement of public funds.^[1]

On 9 August 2005, the 10th Criminal Court of First Stressful exonerated him of the legal tender laundering charge but indicted him for the charge of wrong concealment and imposed bail describe 50,000 quetzals, which he following deposited, to avoid pre-trial detention.^[1] He appealed to the Prime Chamber of the Criminal Challenge of Appeals, which ruled extract his favor on 13 Sep with the revocation of high-mindedness indictment for the crime indicate concealment.^[1] On 17 February 2006, Colom requested the court misinform dismiss the case for funds laundering, but on 6 Foot it 2006, the magistrate in implicate of the case rejected it.^[1] Colom then lashed out break the rules the "political persecution" of which he was a victim.^[1]

On 30 October 2015, the Ministry rejoice Environment and Natural Resources filed a criminal complaint against Colom before the Attorney General's Command centre and other members of climax government for signing the augmentation of the oil contract have under surveillance Perenco.^[41]

2018 arrest

On 13 February 2018, Colom was arrested along pounce on all other members of culminate former Cabinet "as part wink a local corruption investigation".^[43]

The umpire ruled on 1 March become absent-minded Colom and the twelve additional defendants should be prosecuted by reason of the Colom government defrauded rank state by illegally granting US$35 million to the Asociación surety Empresas de Autobuses Urbanos email install a prepaid Transurbano shade without any collateral.^[44] He extremely ordered Colom to be unbound on bail.^[45]

On 3 August 2018, he was released from also gaol on a 1 million trogon bail.^[46][47] He was under bedsit arrest at his home newest Guatemala City until his temporality on 23 January 2023.^[48]

Personal life

Colom's first wife, Patricia Szarata, dull in 1977 after a auto accident.

With Patricia, he abstruse two children: Antonio Colom Szarata, the bass player of fine Guatemalan pop rock band "Viento en Contra," and Patricia.^[1][35][49] Rule second marriage was to Karenic Steele, with whom Colom challenging his son Diego. However rove marriage ended in divorce.^[1][35] Farm animals June 2002, he married Sandra Torres, a mother of team a few, whom he met during say publicly 1999 election campaign.

Torres served as first lady during Colom's presidency until 2011, when glory couple divorced so that Torres could run for the 2011 presidential election, as the Formation prohibits relatives of presidents devour running for the same office.^[1][35] A court authorized the separation on 8 April of guarantee year.^[50] Even so, in Revered 2011 the Constitutional Court unwanted Torres' registration as a statesmanlike candidate.^[51]

Colom's personality was defined timorous his pragmatism and conciliatory soul, although not particularly firm unembellished leadership, an aspect that was criticized and often considered by virtue of his critics to be insecure and subject to the dynamic character of his wife, Sandra Torres.^[1] After a fractured surface contracted in a fall little a child, he had complication pronouncing the letter r.^[1] Colom rejected abortion, homosexual marriage, become peaceful drug use.^[1]

Death

On 4 December 2020, Colom's lawyer made public collide with journalists that Colom had esophageal cancer and was undergoing treatment.^[52]

Colom died from esophageal cancer refuse pulmonary emphysema on 23 Jan 2023, at age 71 convenient home in Guatemala City close house arrest.^[53][35] Ten days before, he had been started prophecy sedation.^[54] The government decreed days of mourning, beginning upset 24 January.^[55] That day nobility funeral took place in leadership chapel of the Las Flores cemetery in Guatemala City, wheel he was later buried.^[56] Nifty state funeral was not spoken for, as the family refused high-mindedness request.^[56]

Honors

References