Francisco Santos Calderón
Encyclopedia
Francisco Santos Calderón also known as Pacho Santos born 14 August 1961 in the city of Bogotá
, is a Colombia
n politician
and journalist
. Santos was elected as Álvaro Uribe
's second runner up and became Vice President
in the Colombian elections
of 2002. Santos was re-elected in the presidential elections
of 2006 for a second term once again with President Uribe to continue as Vice President of Colombia
. His great-uncle Eduardo Santos
was President of Colombia from 1938 to 1942
, is a graduate of the University of Kansas
in Lawrence, Kansas
, USA. He also graduated from the University of Texas at Austin
and attended Harvard Extension School
.
led by Pablo Escobar
kidnapped him to pressure the Colombian government to revert its support of druglords' extradition
s to the United States
.
, especially those of victims affected by kidnapping after he himself suffered from this practice. He created the NGO Fundación Pais Libre (Free Country Foundation) with the intentions of advancing awareness and helping the victims and their families. However, he has been criticized due to polemic declarations that support repression against students involved in protests.
Santos defends Plan Colombia
and the use of aerial fumigation as a tool for Coca eradication
in Colombia.
Bogotá
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...
, is a 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...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. Santos was elected as Álvaro Uribe
Álvaro Uribe
Alvaro Uribe Vélez was the 58th President of Colombia, from 2002 to 2010. In August 2010 he was appointed Vice-chairman of the UN panel investigating the Gaza flotilla raid....
's second runner up and became Vice President
Vice President of Colombia
The Vice President of Colombia is the first in the presidential line of succession, becoming the new President of Colombia upon leaves of absence or death, resignation, or removal of the President, as designated by the Colombian Constitution of 1991 which also reinstated the vice president figure...
in the Colombian elections
Elections in Colombia
Elections in Colombia are regulated and controlled by the National Electoral Council which also gives information on elections and election results in for the politics of Colombia....
of 2002. Santos was re-elected in the presidential elections
Colombian presidential election, 2006
The 2006 Colombian presidential election was held on 28 May 2006. Álvaro Uribe was re-elected as President of the Republic and will serve another four-year term, starting on 7 August 2006...
of 2006 for a second term once again with President Uribe to continue as Vice President of Colombia
Vice President of Colombia
The Vice President of Colombia is the first in the presidential line of succession, becoming the new President of Colombia upon leaves of absence or death, resignation, or removal of the President, as designated by the Colombian Constitution of 1991 which also reinstated the vice president figure...
. His great-uncle 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...
was President of Colombia from 1938 to 1942
Education
Santos, like his cousin, President of Colombia Juan Manuel SantosJuan Manuel Santos
Juan Manuel Santos Calderón is a Colombian politician who has been the President of Colombia since 7 August 2010. He previously served as Minister of Foreign Trade, Minister of Finance, and Minister of National Defense.-Career:...
, is a graduate of the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
in Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
, USA. He also graduated from the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
and attended Harvard Extension School
Harvard Extension School
Harvard University Extension School, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of the thirteen degree-granting schools of Harvard University and is part of the Division of Continuing Education.-Origins:...
.
Kidnapping
In 1990 the Medellín CartelMedellín Cartel
The Medellín Cartel was an organized network of "drug suppliers and smugglers" originating in the city of Medellín, Colombia. The drug cartel operated in Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Central America, the United States, as well as Canada and Europe throughout the 1970s and 1980s. It was founded and...
led by 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...
kidnapped him to pressure the Colombian government to revert its support of druglords' extradition
Extradition
Extradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
s to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Human rights advocate
Upon his return, Santos became an advocate of human rights in ColombiaHuman rights in Colombia
According to the U.S. Department of State 2003 human rights report for Colombia, Colombia’s human rights record, despite significant improvements by police and military forces in some areas, remained poor.-Security forces:...
, especially those of victims affected by kidnapping after he himself suffered from this practice. He created the NGO Fundación Pais Libre (Free Country Foundation) with the intentions of advancing awareness and helping the victims and their families. However, he has been criticized due to polemic declarations that support repression against students involved in protests.
Plan Colombia
2007 in an interview for the film documentary The War on DrugsThe War on Drugs
The War on Drugs is a film documentary on the War on Drugs. It shows how the War on Drugs is being fought on various fronts: In Colombia the film follows the efforts to eradicate the coca and poppy plants under Plan Colombia. In the United States the cases of Richard Paey and Sharanda Jones...
Santos defends 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....
and the use of aerial fumigation as a tool for Coca eradication
Coca eradication
Coca eradication is a controversial strategy strongly promoted by the United States government starting in 1961 as part of its "War on Drugs" to eliminate the cultivation of coca, a plant whose leaves are not only traditionally used by indigenous cultures but also, in modern society, in the...
in Colombia.