Oswaldo Álvarez Paz
Encyclopedia
Oswaldo Álvarez Paz is a Venezuela
n politician.
He was born in Maracaibo
, Zulia
and graduated in Law from the University of Zulia
. He was a Member of the Republic's Congress for over 20 years (periods from 1966 to 1993), President of the Venezuelan Chamber of Deputies
(1974 to 1979) and participated/directed the most important commissions of the Venezuelan Parliament. He was Rafael Caldera
's campaign manager for the Venezuelan presidential election, 1983
. In December 1989, he became the first Governor of the State of Zulia to be elected by the people, being re-elected for a second period in December 1992.
On April 25, 1993, his party, COPEI, held open primary
elections to choose a presidential candidate for the Venezuelan presidential election, 1993
; almost 20% of Venezuela's 9.8m voters participated in the primary. Álvarez Paz defeated COPEI party leader Eduardo Fernández, resigning his position as Governor in order to run. In the campaign Paz supported privatization and foreign investment, and said he aimed for Venezuela to join the North American Free Trade Agreement
; he identified the contemporary political figure he admired most as Ronald Reagan
. Oswaldo Alvarez Paz obtained more than 23% of the votes, in an election where the winner, Rafael Caldera
, won with 30%.
In May 2005 Alvarez Paz created a new party called "Alianza Popular" (Popular Alliance), organization that, as it states in its by-laws, defends and promotes freedom, democracy State of Law and human rights, as well as the promotion and protection of private property, the contribution to poverty eradication and the disappearing of corruption.
On 22 March 2010, Oswaldo Alvarez Paz was arrested for remarks made during a broadcast of the Globovisión
talkshow Aló Ciudadano
("Hello Citizen"). Álvarez Paz had said "Venezuela has turned into a center of operations that facilitates the business of drug trafficking." He also accused "Chavez of being a subversive element and having direct links with FARC and ETA." He was charged with conspiracy, and with spreading false information and publicly inciting violation of the law. He was released on bail in mid May 2010.
In July 2010 the Agencia Venezolana de Noticias reported that Alvarez Paz had in a recent column for El Nacional
called for a coup strategy to end what he called the "monstruous" current process. He had written that "It is indispensable to be clear about the indispensable objective. To replace the current regime with as little delay and as little trauma as possible. We don't know when the time will come..."
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n politician.
He was born in Maracaibo
Maracaibo
Maracaibo is a city and municipality located in northwestern Venezuela off the western coast of the Lake Maracaibo. It is the second-largest city in the country after the national capital Caracas and the capital of Zulia state...
, Zulia
Zulia
Zulia State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is Maracaibo. In June 30, 2010, it had an estimated population of 3,821,068, giving it the largest population among Venezuela's states. It is located in the northwestern part of the country...
and graduated in Law from the University of Zulia
University of Zulia
The University of Zulia , is a public university whose Main Campus is located in the city of Maracaibo, Venezuela...
. He was a Member of the Republic's Congress for over 20 years (periods from 1966 to 1993), President of the Venezuelan Chamber of Deputies
Venezuelan Chamber of Deputies
The Venezuelan Chamber of Deputies was the lower house of Venezuela's legislative under its 1961 constitution; the Venezuelan Senate was the upper house...
(1974 to 1979) and participated/directed the most important commissions of the Venezuelan Parliament. He was Rafael Caldera
Rafael Caldera
Rafael Antonio Caldera Rodríguez was president of Venezuela from 1969 to 1974 and again from 1994 to 1999.Caldera taught sociology and law at various universities before entering politics. He was a founding member of COPEI, Venezuela's Christian Democratic party...
's campaign manager for the Venezuelan presidential election, 1983
Venezuelan presidential election, 1983
General elections were held in Venezuela on 4 December 1983. The presidential elections were won by Jaime Lusinchi of Democratic Action, who received 58.4% of the vote, whilst his party won a majority of seats in the Chamber of Deputies and Senate. Voter turnout was 87.3%.-President:-Congress:...
. In December 1989, he became the first Governor of the State of Zulia to be elected by the people, being re-elected for a second period in December 1992.
On April 25, 1993, his party, COPEI, held open primary
Open primary
An open primary is a primary election that does not require voters to be affiliated with a political party in order to vote for partisan candidates. In a traditional open primary, voters may select one party's ballot and vote for that party's nomination. As in a closed primary, the highest voted...
elections to choose a presidential candidate for the Venezuelan presidential election, 1993
Venezuelan presidential election, 1993
General elections were held in Venezuela on 5 December 1993. The presidential elections were won by Rafael Caldera of National Convergence, who received 30.5% of the vote. Democratic Action remained the largest party in the Chamber of Deputies and Senate, which were elected on separate ballots for...
; almost 20% of Venezuela's 9.8m voters participated in the primary. Álvarez Paz defeated COPEI party leader Eduardo Fernández, resigning his position as Governor in order to run. In the campaign Paz supported privatization and foreign investment, and said he aimed for Venezuela to join the North American Free Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
; he identified the contemporary political figure he admired most as Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
. Oswaldo Alvarez Paz obtained more than 23% of the votes, in an election where the winner, Rafael Caldera
Rafael Caldera
Rafael Antonio Caldera Rodríguez was president of Venezuela from 1969 to 1974 and again from 1994 to 1999.Caldera taught sociology and law at various universities before entering politics. He was a founding member of COPEI, Venezuela's Christian Democratic party...
, won with 30%.
In May 2005 Alvarez Paz created a new party called "Alianza Popular" (Popular Alliance), organization that, as it states in its by-laws, defends and promotes freedom, democracy State of Law and human rights, as well as the promotion and protection of private property, the contribution to poverty eradication and the disappearing of corruption.
On 22 March 2010, Oswaldo Alvarez Paz was arrested for remarks made during a broadcast of the Globovisión
Globovisión
Globovisión is a 24-hour television news network in Venezuela. It broadcasts over-the-air in Caracas, Aragua, Carabobo and Zulia on UHF channel 33. Globovisión is seen in the rest of Venezuela on cable or satellite and worldwide from their website...
talkshow Aló Ciudadano
Aló Ciudadano
Aló Ciudadano is a Venezuelan talk show hosted by Leopoldo Castillo. It airs both on the Globovisión 24-hour television news network and the Circuito Nacional Belfort radio network.- Format :...
("Hello Citizen"). Álvarez Paz had said "Venezuela has turned into a center of operations that facilitates the business of drug trafficking." He also accused "Chavez of being a subversive element and having direct links with FARC and ETA." He was charged with conspiracy, and with spreading false information and publicly inciting violation of the law. He was released on bail in mid May 2010.
In July 2010 the Agencia Venezolana de Noticias reported that Alvarez Paz had in a recent column for El Nacional
El Nacional
El Nacional is a Venezuelan publishing company under the name C.A. Editorial El Nacional, most widely known for its El Nacional newspaper. It, along with Últimas Noticias and El Universal, are the most widely read and circulated daily national newspapers in the country, and it has an average of...
called for a coup strategy to end what he called the "monstruous" current process. He had written that "It is indispensable to be clear about the indispensable objective. To replace the current regime with as little delay and as little trauma as possible. We don't know when the time will come..."
External links
- El UniversalEl Universal (Caracas)El Universal is a major Venezuelan newspaper, headquartered in Caracas with an average daily circulation of about 150,000. The online version carries news, politics, sports, economy and more....
Álvarez Paz columns