Samuel Moreno Rojas
Encyclopedia
Samuel Gustavo Moreno Rojas (born 11 February 1960) is a Colombian lawyer and politician, son of former congressman
Samuel Moreno Díaz and former presidential
candidate María Eugenia Rojas Correa, grandson of former Colombian political-military authoritarian leader and ex-president Gustavo Rojas Pinilla
. His brother Iván Moreno Rojas is a former Mayor of Bucaramanga
, minister and senator. On October 28, 2007, Moreno Rojas was elected Mayor of Bogotá representing the Alternative Democratic Pole
(PDA) for the 2008-2012 term. On 3 May 2011, Moreno was suspended and stripped of his office by the Office of the Inspector General for improprieties in the appropriation of city contracts. For the same accusations, the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia argued for a pretrial detention, and Moreno was arrested on 23 September 2011.
and obtained specializations in business administration from the University of the Andes
, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and Harvard University
.
and then led by his mother, the National Popular Alliance
(ANAPO). He became the coordinator of the ANAPO youth movement from 1982 to 1985. In 1985 he then became coordinator for Bogotá
until 1987 when he was appointed as the national coordinator, a post in which he served until 2003.
of Colombia in 1991 and then reelected for three more periods; 1994, 1998 and 2002. After 2002 Moreno Rojas focused on consolidating the Independent Democratic Pole
, a leftist political movement that included ANAPO and of which he was made party president. In 2005 Moreno Rojas was defeated by Antonio Navarro Wolff
during the Democratic Pole's convention to appoint a presidential candidate. He then decided not to run for a fifth term as senator in order to seek the Mayorship of Bogotá
for 2008.
after defeating the frontrunner in the opinion polls, María Emma Mejía. http://www.eltiempo.com/politica/2007-07-08/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR-3629431.html
if he would pay for 50 votes if that prevented someone who had already paid for 50,000 votes from winning, thus "saving Bogotá". His response was "Yes, without doubt!". His answer was controversial and highly criticized. Later, he claimed that he had not understood the question and that the expression "saving Bogotá" had led him to give such answer.
During his campaign he proposed the construction of an underground rapid transit system
to increase the city's public transport capacity and reduce commuting time and crowding. This proposition was controversial, because the city already had a mass transit system, the TransMilenio
which is not finished yet, and the construction of this new system will make impossible to finish it, there’s also the possibility that the city can't afford the construction and maintenance of the railway. President Álvaro Uribe
mentioned that he would support the new system after proper analysis of the proposal and viability and suggested that the system must be financially self-sustainable if built. Uribe alleged that the Colombian government was unable to sustain through subsidies the maintenance of the rapid transit system.
in Bogotá's mayoral elections in October 2007, with 43.7% of the votes against the 28.15% achieved by Peñalosa. http://www.eltiempo.com/elecciones2007/resultados_elecciones/resultados_votacion.php?codigoDepto=16001 He took office on January 1, 2008.
During his period in charge of the city, Moreno has been widely criticized by media, members of his political party, and a large proportion of his electors, due to his lack of results in terms of urban security, transit, and political promises made in his campaign. An initiative to revoque his mandate is currently under development.
, Alejandro Ordoñez, as a result of a initial investigation on Mayor Moreno, decided to suspend him for three months, due to alleged omissions on Public works executions. This case has a link with an ongoing investigation for corruption and irregularities related with public construction bidings in Bogotá. On August 2, 2011, the Inspector decided to extend the suspension for three more months, claiming that the case against Moreno has not been resolved yet, and more time to achieve a resolution is required.
On September 23, 2011, he was sheltered in pretrial detention by a judge while defining his legal status.
Congress of Colombia
The Congress of the Republic of Colombia is the name given to Colombia's bicameral national legislature.The Congress of Colombia consists of the 102-seat Senate , and the 166-seat Chamber of Representatives ...
Samuel Moreno Díaz and former presidential
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"...
candidate María Eugenia Rojas Correa, grandson of former Colombian political-military authoritarian leader and ex-president Gustavo Rojas Pinilla
Gustavo Rojas Pinilla
Gustavo Rojas Pinilla was a Colombian politician, military officer, General of the Army and President of Colombia between 1953 and 1957.- Biographic data :...
. His brother Iván Moreno Rojas is a former Mayor of Bucaramanga
Bucaramanga
Bucaramanga is a Colombian city, and capital city of the department of Santander, Colombia. Bucaramanga has the fifth largest city economy and sixth largest population in Colombia, with 1,212,656 people in its metropolitan area...
, minister and senator. On October 28, 2007, Moreno Rojas was elected Mayor of Bogotá representing the Alternative Democratic Pole
Alternative Democratic Pole
The Alternative Democratic Pole is a political alliance in Colombia, formed by the Independent Democratic Pole and the Democratic Alternative in December 2005...
(PDA) for the 2008-2012 term. On 3 May 2011, Moreno was suspended and stripped of his office by the Office of the Inspector General for improprieties in the appropriation of city contracts. For the same accusations, the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia argued for a pretrial detention, and Moreno was arrested on 23 September 2011.
Education
Moreno Rojas studied Economics and Law in the Universidad del Rosario in 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...
and obtained specializations in business administration from the University of the Andes
University of the Andes, Colombia
The University of the Andes , is a coeducational, nonsectarian private university located in city centre Bogotá, Colombia. Founded in 1948, the University has 9 faculties: Administration, Architecture and Design, Arts and Humanities, Sciences, Social Sciences, Law, Economics, Engineering and...
, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and 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...
.
Career
In 1982 Moreno Rojas joined the political party founded by his grandfather Gustavo Rojas PinillaGustavo Rojas Pinilla
Gustavo Rojas Pinilla was a Colombian politician, military officer, General of the Army and President of Colombia between 1953 and 1957.- Biographic data :...
and then led by his mother, the National Popular Alliance
National Popular Alliance
The National Popular Alliance or ANAPO was a political party in Colombia. It was founded in 1961 as a movement by the ex-president Gustavo Rojas Pinilla and was disbanded in 1998...
(ANAPO). He became the coordinator of the ANAPO youth movement from 1982 to 1985. In 1985 he then became coordinator for Bogotá
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...
until 1987 when he was appointed as the national coordinator, a post in which he served until 2003.
Public office career
He was elected senatorSenate 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...
of Colombia in 1991 and then reelected for three more periods; 1994, 1998 and 2002. After 2002 Moreno Rojas focused on consolidating the Independent Democratic Pole
Independent Democratic Pole
The Independent Democratic Pole or , is a left-wing social democratic political party in Colombia.-Origins:...
, a leftist political movement that included ANAPO and of which he was made party president. In 2005 Moreno Rojas was defeated by Antonio Navarro Wolff
Antonio Navarro Wolff
Antonio Navarro Wolff is a Colombian politician and former commander of the 19th of April Movement guerrilla group, which demobilized and formed a political party which he also led...
during the Democratic Pole's convention to appoint a presidential candidate. He then decided not to run for a fifth term as senator in order to seek the Mayorship of Bogotá
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...
for 2008.
Candidacy
On July 8, 2007 he was elected as the candidate for the Alternative Democratic PoleAlternative Democratic Pole
The Alternative Democratic Pole is a political alliance in Colombia, formed by the Independent Democratic Pole and the Democratic Alternative in December 2005...
after defeating the frontrunner in the opinion polls, María Emma Mejía. http://www.eltiempo.com/politica/2007-07-08/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR-3629431.html
Controversy during candidacy
On October 21, in a live TV debate, he was asked by Antanas MockusAntanas Mockus
Aurelijus Rutenis Antanas Mockus Šivickas is a Colombian mathematician, philosopher, and politician.The son of Lithuanian immigrants, he left his post as the president of the National University of Colombia in Bogotá in 1993, and later that year ran a successful campaign for mayor...
if he would pay for 50 votes if that prevented someone who had already paid for 50,000 votes from winning, thus "saving Bogotá". His response was "Yes, without doubt!". His answer was controversial and highly criticized. Later, he claimed that he had not understood the question and that the expression "saving Bogotá" had led him to give such answer.
During his campaign he proposed the construction of an underground rapid transit system
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
to increase the city's public transport capacity and reduce commuting time and crowding. This proposition was controversial, because the city already had a mass transit system, the TransMilenio
TransMilenio
TransMilenio is a bus rapid transit system that serves Bogotá, the capital of Colombia. The system opened to the public in December 2000, covering Av. Caracas and Calle 80...
which is not finished yet, and the construction of this new system will make impossible to finish it, there’s also the possibility that the city can't afford the construction and maintenance of the railway. President 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....
mentioned that he would support the new system after proper analysis of the proposal and viability and suggested that the system must be financially self-sustainable if built. Uribe alleged that the Colombian government was unable to sustain through subsidies the maintenance of the rapid transit system.
Elected mayor
Moreno defeated rival and former Mayor Enrique PeñalosaEnrique Peñalosa
Enrique Peñalosa Londoño is a Colombian politician and New Urbanist. He was mayor of Bogotá, from 1998 until 2001, and was runner-up in 2007. He is running in 2011 for mayor as the Green Party candidate. He has also worked as a journalist and consultant on urban and transportation policy...
in Bogotá's mayoral elections in October 2007, with 43.7% of the votes against the 28.15% achieved by Peñalosa. http://www.eltiempo.com/elecciones2007/resultados_elecciones/resultados_votacion.php?codigoDepto=16001 He took office on January 1, 2008.
During his period in charge of the city, Moreno has been widely criticized by media, members of his political party, and a large proportion of his electors, due to his lack of results in terms of urban security, transit, and political promises made in his campaign. An initiative to revoque his mandate is currently under development.
2011 Suspension and Detention
On May 3, 2011 the Inspector General of ColombiaInspector General of Colombia
The Office of the Inspector General of Colombia is a Colombian independent, public institution overseeing the public conduct of those in authority or in charge of exercising a public office, and of overseeing the correct functioning of other government institutions and agencies...
, Alejandro Ordoñez, as a result of a initial investigation on Mayor Moreno, decided to suspend him for three months, due to alleged omissions on Public works executions. This case has a link with an ongoing investigation for corruption and irregularities related with public construction bidings in Bogotá. On August 2, 2011, the Inspector decided to extend the suspension for three more months, claiming that the case against Moreno has not been resolved yet, and more time to achieve a resolution is required.
On September 23, 2011, he was sheltered in pretrial detention by a judge while defining his legal status.