Alfonso López Pumarejo
Encyclopedia
Alfonso López Pumarejo (1886 - 1959) was a two-time Colombia
n president
and political figure, as a member of the Colombian Liberal Party
. He served as president of Colombia
for the first time between 1934 and 1938 and again between 1942 and 1945.
. His son, Alfonso López Michelsen
, was president of Colombia
between 1974 and 1978. He was the first president.
Elected president in 1934, as the second participant of the so-called Liberal Hegemony in Colombia, his initial government platform became known under the name "Revolución en Marcha" (Marching Revolution), as it attempted to implement far reaching social and political reforms. Several radical changes were promoted during his first administration, as the government supported the creation of labor unions and also passed the Law 200 of 1936, which allowed for the expropriation of private properties, in order to promote "social interest".
These actions earned López Pumarejo the backing of important rural and labor sectors, in addition to that of the Colombian Communist Party
, but they likewise divided his previous political allies, some of which called for moderation. The election of his successor Eduardo Santos
took place in 1938.
When Colombia joined the Allies in declaring war against Axis Germany in 1942 during the Second World War, López Pumarejo strongly supported the decision and simultaneously declared that the government should take into account that the United States
would always place its own interests ahead of anything else, implicitly indicating that these may not necessarily coincide with those of Colombia.
After being re-elected in 1942, the second administration of López Pumarejo faced a stronger opposition in Congress and by both the more conservative and more radical sectors within the president's own Colombian Liberal Party
which resulted in the interruption of previous reforms.
To permit López Pumarejo to travel to the United States and care for his sick wife, María Michelsen de López, Darío Echandía
assumed the acting presidency of the country from November 17, 1943 to May 16, 1944. This turn of events also prevented the development of further reforms, as López himself was temporarily removed from the political arena.
After his return to the country, further political conflicts led to a failed military coup attempt in 1944, and López Pumarejo finally resigned in early 1945.
In 1946, he was head of the Colombian delegation to the United Nations
.
Alfonso López Pumarejo died on November 20, 1959 in London
, to which he had travelled as Colombia's ambassador to the United Kingdom
. He had lived at 33 Wilton Crescent
in Belgravia
, Knightsbridge
in London for sometime.
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and political figure, as a member of the Colombian Liberal Party
Colombian Liberal Party
The Colombian Liberal Party is a center-left party in Colombia that adheres to social democracy and social liberalism.The Party was founded in 1848 and, together with the Colombian Conservative Party, subsequently became one of the two main political forces in the country for over a century.After...
. He served as president of Colombia
President of Colombia
The President of Colombia is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Colombia. The office of president was established upon the ratification of the Constitution of 1819, by the Congress of Angostura, convened in December 1819, when Colombia was part of "la Gran Colombia"...
for the first time between 1934 and 1938 and again between 1942 and 1945.
Biography
Alfonso López Pumarejo born in Honda (Tolima), his father Pedro Aquilino López was a great businessman and great mentor of this city. Alfonso López Pumarejo went on to study at the London School of EconomicsLondon School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. His son, Alfonso López Michelsen
Alfonso López Michelsen
Alfonso López Michelsen was a Colombian politician, lawyer and journalist. Lopez Michelsen was President of Colombia from 1974 to 1978. He was the son of Alfonso López Pumarejo, who was also president of Colombia from 1934 to 1938, and once again from 1942 to 1945...
, was president of Colombia
President of Colombia
The President of Colombia is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Colombia. The office of president was established upon the ratification of the Constitution of 1819, by the Congress of Angostura, convened in December 1819, when Colombia was part of "la Gran Colombia"...
between 1974 and 1978. He was the first president.
Elected president in 1934, as the second participant of the so-called Liberal Hegemony in Colombia, his initial government platform became known under the name "Revolución en Marcha" (Marching Revolution), as it attempted to implement far reaching social and political reforms. Several radical changes were promoted during his first administration, as the government supported the creation of labor unions and also passed the Law 200 of 1936, which allowed for the expropriation of private properties, in order to promote "social interest".
These actions earned López Pumarejo the backing of important rural and labor sectors, in addition to that of the Colombian Communist Party
Colombian Communist Party
The Colombian Communist Party or PCC is the legal communist party of Colombia. It was founded in 1930, as the Colombian section of the Comintern...
, but they likewise divided his previous political allies, some of which called for moderation. The election of his successor Eduardo Santos
Eduardo Santos
Eduardo Santos Montejo was a leading Colombian publisher and politician, active in the Colombian Liberal Party. He owned the prominent Bogotá newspaper El Tiempo, and served as the President of Colombia from August 1938 to August 1942.Santos was close friends with the Venezuelan Ambassador in...
took place in 1938.
When Colombia joined the Allies in declaring war against Axis Germany in 1942 during the Second World War, López Pumarejo strongly supported the decision and simultaneously declared that the government should take into account that the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
would always place its own interests ahead of anything else, implicitly indicating that these may not necessarily coincide with those of Colombia.
After being re-elected in 1942, the second administration of López Pumarejo faced a stronger opposition in Congress and by both the more conservative and more radical sectors within the president's own Colombian Liberal Party
Colombian Liberal Party
The Colombian Liberal Party is a center-left party in Colombia that adheres to social democracy and social liberalism.The Party was founded in 1848 and, together with the Colombian Conservative Party, subsequently became one of the two main political forces in the country for over a century.After...
which resulted in the interruption of previous reforms.
To permit López Pumarejo to travel to the United States and care for his sick wife, María Michelsen de López, Darío Echandía
Darío Echandía
Darío Echandía Olaya was a lawyer and a Colombian political figure, as a member of the Colombian Liberal Party. He was born on October 13, 1897 in Chaparral, Tolima as the elder of seven brothers, and died on May 7, 1989 in Ibagué, Tolima....
assumed the acting presidency of the country from November 17, 1943 to May 16, 1944. This turn of events also prevented the development of further reforms, as López himself was temporarily removed from the political arena.
After his return to the country, further political conflicts led to a failed military coup attempt in 1944, and López Pumarejo finally resigned in early 1945.
In 1946, he was head of the Colombian delegation to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
Alfonso López Pumarejo died on November 20, 1959 in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, to which he had travelled as Colombia's ambassador to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He had lived at 33 Wilton Crescent
Wilton Crescent
Wilton Crescent is a wealthy community in Belgravia, London.Wilton Crescent was created by Thomas Cundy II, the Grosvenor family Estate surveyor and was drawn up with the original 1821 Wyatt plan for Belgravia...
in Belgravia
Belgravia
Belgravia is a district of central London in the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Noted for its immensely expensive residential properties, it is one of the wealthiest districts in the world...
, Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge is a road which gives its name to an exclusive district lying to the west of central London. The road runs along the south side of Hyde Park, west from Hyde Park Corner, spanning the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
in London for sometime.