Dilian Francisca Toro
Encyclopedia
Dilian Francisca Toro Torres MD
(born January 6, 1959) is a Colombian
doctor
and politician
serving as Senator of Colombia. As Senator, Toro was elected President of the Congress of Colombia
becoming only the second woman to do so.
, Colombia
. She began her life in the public service when she was only 15 years old as a founder member of the Casa de la Cultura of Guacarí and started working with groups at risk.
She moved to Santiago de Cali
to study Medicine in the Universidad Libre de Cali, where she graduated as a Surgeon
and moved to Guacarí Brasil to specialize in rheumatology
at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
Upon returning to Colombia, she was elected councilor for the Municipality of Guacarí, and in 1992 she became Mayor of Guacarí post which she occupied until 1994.
In 1996, she married former Senator Julio César Caycedo Zamorano in a religious ceremony officiated in the San Juan Bautista de Guacarí church
, that same year she was named Secretary of Health for the Department of Valle del Cauca. Toro inherited the political support once held by the former liberal party leader in Valle del Cauca Carlos Abadía who was jailed as part of the 8000 process scandal
, in which members of the Cali Cartel
financed the political campaigns of numerous politicians including the presidential campaign of Ernesto Samper
who resulted elected.
for the Colombian Liberal Party
receiving a total of 71,721 votes.
Because of her support for President Álvaro Uribe Vélez and his bid for re-election, Toro was sanctioned by the Liberal Party in 2004, which prompted to join a desertation of Congressmen from different parties who joined to form the Social National Unity Party
and backed President Uribe.
by a majority of votes in congress.
to the President of the Republic of Colombia. There was a controversy however, Toro made a mistake and placed the presidential band backwards, with the Colombian flag colors inverted. When Toro was interviewed about this, she explained that "it was to bring good fortune to the new government... ...because you are supposed to wear your panties inverted for good luck".
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
(born January 6, 1959) is a Colombian
Colombian people
Colombian people are from a multiethnic Spanish speaking nation in South America called Colombia. Colombians are predominantly Roman Catholic and are a mixture of Europeans, Africans, and Amerindians.-Demography:...
doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
serving as Senator of Colombia. As Senator, Toro was elected President of the Congress of Colombia
President of the Congress of Colombia
The President of the Congress of Colombia is the leader of the Congress of the Republic of Colombia. The Presidency of Congress is assumed by the person elected as President of the Senate of Colombia by members of the Senate in an election held every year on July 20...
becoming only the second woman to do so.
Personal life
Dilian Francisca Toro Torres was born on January 6, 1959, in GuacaríGuacari
Guacarí is a town and municipality located in the Department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia....
, Colombia
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...
. She began her life in the public service when she was only 15 years old as a founder member of the Casa de la Cultura of Guacarí and started working with groups at risk.
She moved to Santiago de Cali
Santiago de Cali
Santiago de Cali , simply referred to as Cali, is a city in western Colombia and the capital of the Valle del Cauca Department. With a population of 2.5 million, Cali is the third largest city in the country. It has one of the fastest growing economies and infrastructure in the country because...
to study Medicine in the Universidad Libre de Cali, where she graduated as a Surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
and moved to Guacarí Brasil to specialize in rheumatology
Rheumatology
Rheumatology is a sub-specialty in internal medicine and pediatrics, devoted to diagnosis and therapy of rheumatic diseases. Clinicians who specialize in rheumatology are called rheumatologists...
at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
Upon returning to Colombia, she was elected councilor for the Municipality of Guacarí, and in 1992 she became Mayor of Guacarí post which she occupied until 1994.
In 1996, she married former Senator Julio César Caycedo Zamorano in a religious ceremony officiated in the San Juan Bautista de Guacarí church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, that same year she was named Secretary of Health for the Department of Valle del Cauca. Toro inherited the political support once held by the former liberal party leader in Valle del Cauca Carlos Abadía who was jailed as part of the 8000 process scandal
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...
, in which members of the Cali Cartel
Cali Cartel
The Cali Cartel was a drug cartel based in southern Colombia, around the city of Cali and the Valle del Cauca Department. The Cali Cartel was founded by the Rodríguez Orejuela brothers, Gilberto and Miguel, as well as associate José Santacruz Londoño...
financed the political campaigns of numerous politicians including the presidential campaign of 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...
who resulted elected.
Senator of Colombia 2002
Toro Torres was first elected to Congress as a candidate in the 2002 Legislative ElectionsColombian legislative election, 2002
Legislative elections were held in Colombia on 10 March 2002. They were won by the Colombian Liberal Party....
for 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...
receiving a total of 71,721 votes.
Because of her support for President Álvaro Uribe Vélez and his bid for re-election, Toro was sanctioned by the Liberal Party in 2004, which prompted to join a desertation of Congressmen from different parties who joined to form the Social National Unity Party
Social National Unity Party
The Social Party of National Unity , or Party of the U is a liberal conservative political party in Colombia. It attempts to unite various parliamentary supporters of Álvaro Uribe, the Uribistas, in one political party. Currently it is Colombia's largest political party.Security is the top...
and backed President Uribe.
Senator of Colombia 2006
In July 2006 Toro was reelected as senator and elected President of the Congress of ColombiaPresident of the Congress of Colombia
The President of the Congress of Colombia is the leader of the Congress of the Republic of Colombia. The Presidency of Congress is assumed by the person elected as President of the Senate of Colombia by members of the Senate in an election held every year on July 20...
by a majority of votes in congress.
Presidential band incident
During the inauguration ceremony of President Alvaro Uribe for his second term, as president of the Congress of Colombia, she became the first woman to ever administer the oath of officeOath of office
An oath of office is an oath or affirmation a person takes before undertaking the duties of an office, usually a position in government or within a religious body, although such oaths are sometimes required of officers of other organizations...
to the President of the Republic of Colombia. There was a controversy however, Toro made a mistake and placed the presidential band backwards, with the Colombian flag colors inverted. When Toro was interviewed about this, she explained that "it was to bring good fortune to the new government... ...because you are supposed to wear your panties inverted for good luck".