Andrés Pastrana Arango
Encyclopedia
Andrés Pastrana Arango (born 17 August 1954) was the President of Colombia
from 1998 to 2002, following in the footsteps of his father, Misael Pastrana, who was president from 1970 to 1974.
. He got a degree in law at the Our Lady of the Rosary University
in 1977. After obtaining a postgraduate degree at Harvard University
(a non degree course on french culinary history) in the United States, he returned to Colombia. On his return he founded a magazine called Guión and a television news program called Noticiero TV Hoy. As a regular news anchor he became a nationally known figure.
council. He also specialized in press articles on the production and trafficking of cocaine
, for which he gained many journalistic awards. In 1991 he was elected Senator
.
by the Medellín
drug cartel, which was pressuring the Colombian government into preventing the extradition of Pablo Escobar
and other drug lords to the United States. He was found by the National Police
a week later, and in March he was elected Mayor of Bogotá, a position he held until 1990. He gained a reputation for strengthening security and reducing crime.
candidate Ernesto Samper
, losing by only 2 points in the second round. Pastrana immediately accused Samper of using drug money to finance his campaign, and provided audio recordings to the authorities which subsequently attracted much media attention and eventually led to a scandal known as 8.000 Process (Proceso 8.000
).
While this accusation underwent a parliamentary investigation, Pastrana retired into his private life. In 1998, Pastrana announced his intention to run for President. This time he won in the Presidential elections of 1998
.
His presidency is remembered first for his negotiations with the two left-wing guerrilla groups FARC
and ELN, culminating in the grant of a demilitarized safe haven to the guerrillas the size of Switzerland, and second for his breaking off said negotiations. It is also remembered for a growing degree of unpopularity in polls as his term progressed. Some critics accused him of possibly accepting unspecified bribes from leading FARC and ELN members, but no concrete evidence of that was presented during his presidency. His administration proposed and initially oversaw the implementation of the Plan Colombia
aid package and anti-drug strategy. He was also heavily criticized for all the seemingly pleasure trips he took around the world during his term.
Some political analysts theorized that Uribe considered that Pastrana would be a useful diplomat in Washington, because he would help to renegotiate Plan Colombia and in general to maintain U.S. aid to Colombia, which has contributed to the successes of the Uribe administration.
. Pastranas is also the Honorary president of the Union de Patridos Latinoamericanos(UPLA).
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"...
from 1998 to 2002, following in the footsteps of his father, Misael Pastrana, who was president from 1970 to 1974.
Early years
During his father's presidency, he was a student in Colegio San CarlosColegio San Carlos
Colegio San Carlos is an all-male, private, bilingual school in Bogotá, Colombia. The school has been recognized as the source of many national leaders.The school works under the auspice of the Benedictine Monasterio de Tibati...
. He got a degree in law at the Our Lady of the Rosary University
Our Lady of the Rosary University
The Universidad del Rosario is a university originally founded on Roman Catholic principles, in 1653 by Fray Cristobal de Torres. Located in Bogotá, Colombia, due to its important place in Colombian history, it is known as "The Cradle of the Republic". It had also a primary and secundary school...
in 1977. After obtaining a postgraduate degree at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
(a non degree course on french culinary history) in the United States, he returned to Colombia. On his return he founded a magazine called Guión and a television news program called Noticiero TV Hoy. As a regular news anchor he became a nationally known figure.
Political career
In 1982 he formally began his political career, gaining a seat on the local BogotáBogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
council. He also specialized in press articles on the production and trafficking of cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
, for which he gained many journalistic awards. In 1991 he was elected Senator
Senate of Colombia
The Senate of the Republic of Colombia is the upper house of the Congress of Colombia, with the lower house being the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia...
.
Kidnapping by Medellin Cartel and elected Mayor of Bogota
He was kidnapped on 18 January 1988 in AntioquiaAntioquia Department
Antioquia is one of the 32 departments of Colombia, located in the central northwestern part of Colombia with a narrow section that borders the Caribbean Sea. Most of its territory is mountainous with some valleys, much of which is part of the Andes mountain range...
by the Medellín
Medellín
Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
drug cartel, which was pressuring the Colombian government into preventing the extradition of Pablo Escobar
Pablo Escobar
Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria was a Colombian drug lord. He was an elusive cocaine trafficker and rich and successful criminal. He owned numerous luxury residences, automobiles, and even airplanes...
and other drug lords to the United States. He was found by the National Police
Colombian National Police
The National Police of Colombia is the national police force of Colombia. Although the National Police is not part of the Military of Colombia , it constitutes along with them the "Public Force" and is also controlled by the Ministry of Defense. They are the largest police force in Colombia...
a week later, and in March he was elected Mayor of Bogotá, a position he held until 1990. He gained a reputation for strengthening security and reducing crime.
First candidacy for President of Colombia
In 1994 he stood for the presidency against LiberalColombian 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...
candidate Ernesto Samper
Ernesto Samper
Ernesto Samper Pizano is a Colombian politician. He served as the President of Colombia from August 7, 1994 to August 7, 1998, representing the Liberal Party. He was involved in the 8000 process scandal, which takes its name from the folio number assigned to it by the chief prosecutor's office...
, losing by only 2 points in the second round. Pastrana immediately accused Samper of using drug money to finance his campaign, and provided audio recordings to the authorities which subsequently attracted much media attention and eventually led to a scandal known as 8.000 Process (Proceso 8.000
Proceso 8000
8,000 Process was the unofficial name of the legal investigation of events surrounding accusations that the Liberal candidate Ernesto Samper's 1994 campaign for President of Colombia was partially funded with drug money...
).
While this accusation underwent a parliamentary investigation, Pastrana retired into his private life. In 1998, Pastrana announced his intention to run for President. This time he won in the Presidential elections of 1998
Colombian presidential election, 1998
Presidential elections were held in Colombia on May 31, 1998 for the first round, and the second round was held on June 21, 1998. The election was won by Andrés Pastrana....
.
President of Colombia (1998-2002)
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army is a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary guerrilla organization based in Colombia which is involved in the ongoing Colombian armed conflict, currently involved in drug dealing and crimes against the civilians..FARC-EP is a peasant army which...
and ELN, culminating in the grant of a demilitarized safe haven to the guerrillas the size of Switzerland, and second for his breaking off said negotiations. It is also remembered for a growing degree of unpopularity in polls as his term progressed. Some critics accused him of possibly accepting unspecified bribes from leading FARC and ELN members, but no concrete evidence of that was presented during his presidency. His administration proposed and initially oversaw the implementation of the Plan Colombia
Plan Colombia
The term Plan Colombia is most often used to refer to U.S. legislation aimed at curbing drug smuggling and combating a left-wing insurgency by supporting different activities in Colombia....
aid package and anti-drug strategy. He was also heavily criticized for all the seemingly pleasure trips he took around the world during his term.
Ambassador of Colombia to the United States
In 2005 President Álvaro Uribe Vélez, who had been a critic of Pastrana's peace process with the FARC and had received criticisms from Pastrana regarding his negotiations with Colombian paramilitary groups, surprisingly offered the former president the post of Ambassador to the United States in Washington DC. After consulting his family and political supporters, Pastrana accepted.Some political analysts theorized that Uribe considered that Pastrana would be a useful diplomat in Washington, because he would help to renegotiate Plan Colombia and in general to maintain U.S. aid to Colombia, which has contributed to the successes of the Uribe administration.
Resignation
In July 2006, a few days after President Uribe had appointed former president Ernesto Samper as Colombian ambassador to France, Pastrana told the President that he was "morally impeded" from participatibng in a government along with ex-president Samper. Pastrana resigned and returned to Colombia and Samper rejected his own appointment. But this move was not well received by the Conservative Party. The Conservative Party was committed to President Uribe (who won the presidency as an independent) and left former President Pastrana alone.Other activities
Pastrana is a member of the board of the International Foundation for Electoral SystemsInternational Foundation for Electoral Systems
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems is an international, non-profit organization founded in 1987. This Washington, D. C.-based development organization provides assistance and support for elections in new and emerging democracies...
. Pastranas is also the Honorary president of the Union de Patridos Latinoamericanos(UPLA).