Bernard Martínez Valerio
Encyclopedia
Bernard Martínez Valerio (born 19 January 1962) is trade union
and Garifuna leader who was a candidate for the Innovation and Unity Party
(PINU) in the Honduran 2009 presidential election
. He is the first black candidate in a Honduran election.
and Garifuna leader from the North coast of Honduras
who was formerly a member of the Frente Patriótico Hondureño.
in Honduras, which was held on 29 November 2009.
Bernard Martínez sees the Innovation and Unity Party
(PINU) as being labelled "social-democratic" in relation to the concepts of liberty
, equality
] and solidarity, that he attributes to social democracy
.
In relation to the 2009 Honduran constitutional crisis
, Martínez stated that Manuel Zelaya
had carried out his project for constitutional reform with "disorder and indiscipline", that led to his failure and removal. He stated that reforms to the Constitution
were necessary within the mechanisms established by that same constitution. He supported the interim government of Roberto Micheletti
.
Martínez said that the "bipartisan" dominance of Honduras by the Liberal Party
and the National Party
had done more ill than good and that by their poor policies and support for corruption, they are responsible for poverty.
PINU stated that Martínez was the "first black presidential candidate" in Honduras. Martínez said that the term "Honduran Barack Obama
" used by some media to describe him was an innovation by journalists and not his own point of view.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
and Garifuna leader who was a candidate for the Innovation and Unity Party
Innovation and Unity Party
Innovation and Unity Party is a centre-left political party in Honduras, established in 1970. PINU was created by Miguel Andonie Fernández as a democratic, moderate left-wing alternative to the two major parties and the military régime.-2001 elections:...
(PINU) in the Honduran 2009 presidential election
Honduran general election, 2009
The Honduran general election, 2009 was held in Honduras on 29 November 2009, including presidential, parliamentary and local elections. Voters went to the polls to elect:*A new President of Honduras to serve a four-year term starting January 27, 2010....
. He is the first black candidate in a Honduran election.
Early career
Bernard Martínez Valerio, born in 1962, is a trade unionTrade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
and Garifuna leader from the North coast of Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
who was formerly a member of the Frente Patriótico Hondureño.
Candidature in 2009 presidential election
Bernard Martínez stood as a candidate for PINU in the 2009 presidential electionHonduran general election, 2009
The Honduran general election, 2009 was held in Honduras on 29 November 2009, including presidential, parliamentary and local elections. Voters went to the polls to elect:*A new President of Honduras to serve a four-year term starting January 27, 2010....
in Honduras, which was held on 29 November 2009.
Bernard Martínez sees the Innovation and Unity Party
Innovation and Unity Party
Innovation and Unity Party is a centre-left political party in Honduras, established in 1970. PINU was created by Miguel Andonie Fernández as a democratic, moderate left-wing alternative to the two major parties and the military régime.-2001 elections:...
(PINU) as being labelled "social-democratic" in relation to the concepts of liberty
Liberty
Liberty is a moral and political principle, or Right, that identifies the condition in which human beings are able to govern themselves, to behave according to their own free will, and take responsibility for their actions...
, equality
Egalitarianism
Egalitarianism is a trend of thought that favors equality of some sort among moral agents, whether persons or animals. Emphasis is placed upon the fact that equality contains the idea of equity of quality...
] and solidarity, that he attributes to social democracy
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
.
In relation to the 2009 Honduran constitutional crisis
2009 Honduran constitutional crisis
The 2009 Honduran constitutional crisis was a political dispute over plans to rewrite the Constitution of Honduras, which culminated in a coup d'état against Honduran President Manuel Zelaya by the Honduran military...
, Martínez stated that Manuel Zelaya
Manuel Zelaya
José Manuel Zelaya Rosales is a politician who was President of Honduras from January 27, 2006 until June 28, 2009. The eldest son of a wealthy businessman, he inherited his father's nickname "Mel," and, before entering politics, was involved in his family's logging and timber businesses.Elected...
had carried out his project for constitutional reform with "disorder and indiscipline", that led to his failure and removal. He stated that reforms to the Constitution
Constitution of Honduras
The Political Constitution of the Republic of Honduras was approved on 11 January 1982, published on 20 January 1982, amended by the National Congress of Honduras 26 times from 1984 to 2005, and 10 interpretations by Congress were made from 1982 to 2005. It is Honduras' twelfth constitution since...
were necessary within the mechanisms established by that same constitution. He supported the interim government of Roberto Micheletti
Roberto Micheletti
Roberto Micheletti Baín is a former de facto president of Honduras who served as a result of the 2009 coup d'état. The Honduran military was ordered by the Supreme Court to forcefully detain President Manuel Zelaya once the Court stated he was violating the Honduran constitution; Zelaya was exiled...
.
Martínez said that the "bipartisan" dominance of Honduras by the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Honduras
The Liberal Party of Honduras is a centre-left liberal political party in Honduras that was founded in 1891. The party is a member of the Liberal International...
and the National Party
National Party of Honduras
The National Party is a centre-right conservative political party in Honduras and the main right-wing political party in the country. Founded in 1902 the PNH is identified with the color blue as its rival the Liberal Party of Honduras , is red. All the democratic elections in Honduras have been...
had done more ill than good and that by their poor policies and support for corruption, they are responsible for poverty.
PINU stated that Martínez was the "first black presidential candidate" in Honduras. Martínez said that the term "Honduran Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
" used by some media to describe him was an innovation by journalists and not his own point of view.