Angelino Garzón
Encyclopedia
Angelino Garzón is the 10th and current Vice President of Colombia
, serving under President
Juan Manuel Santos Calderón. He was the 69th Governor
of Valle del Cauca
from 2004 to 2008, and served as the second Minister of Labour and Social Protection under the administration of President Andrés Pastrana Arango
. He was Permanent Representative
of Colombia to the United Nations in Geneva from 29 January 2009 until his resignation on March 2010, in preparation for his election to the Vice Presidency
.
between 1981 and 1990. He later ran for congressman and was elected to become part of the Constituent Assembly of Colombia
that created the Colombian Constitution of 1991
. He also served as Vice President of the Patriotic Union Party
.
During the government of President Andrés Pastrana Garzon was appointed Ministry of Labour and Social Protection from 2000 until 2002. He was one of the ministers of Pastrana's administration with a popular positive image. After serving as minister he was proposed running for president but he declined. Garzon then participated as member of the facilitating Commission for the Humanitarian Accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
guerrilla group (FARC).
He then renounced to the commission to postulate his name for Governor
of Valle del Cauca Department
. He was elected in 2003 with 60.69% of the votes and winning over Carlos Holmes Trujillo and Carlos José Holguín, this last candidate son of former senator Carlos Holguín Sardi
.
During his administration as Governor of Valle del Cauca in 2006, he was criticized for a conflict that surged between a CISA S.A. Constructing Consortium in charge of widening and repairing the highway Cali
–Candelaria
but which was never started and CISA S.A. sued the Valle del Cauca Department. Garzon and his cabinet called for a hunger strike to press for the courts for an outcome favorable for the department.
In June 2007 Garzon accompanied President Álvaro Uribe Vélez as part of the presidential delegation that traveled to Washington, D.C.
pursuing the approval by the United States Congress
of the Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement
between Colombia and the United States. Senador Jorge Enrique Robledo of the Alternative Democratic Pole
party and one of the most critics of the trade agreement criticized Garzon and mentioned that Garzon had never been part of the Alternative Democratic Pole party nor he had been affiliated to the parties that formed the alliance Independent Democratic Pole
or Democratic Alternative.
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...
, serving under President
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"...
Juan Manuel Santos Calderón. He was the 69th Governor
Governor of Valle del Cauca Department
The Governor of Valle del Cauca is the maximum administrative and political authority in the Colombian department of Valle del Cauca. This political official is elected by popular vote by means of a simple majority system and for a period of four years...
of Valle del Cauca
Valle del Cauca Department
Valle del Cauca is a department of Colombia. It is in the western side of the country, facing the Pacific Ocean, and it is considered one of the most important departments in the Republic of Colombia. Its capital is Santiago de Cali...
from 2004 to 2008, and served as the second Minister of Labour and Social Protection under the administration of President Andrés Pastrana Arango
Andrés Pastrana Arango
Andrés Pastrana Arango was the President of Colombia from 1998 to 2002, following in the footsteps of his father, Misael Pastrana, who was president from 1970 to 1974.-Early years:...
. He was Permanent Representative
Permanent Representative
A Permanent Representative is the head of a diplomatic mission to one of various international organisations. The best known of the organisations to which states send Permanent Representatives is the United Nations; of these, the most high-profile ones are those assigned to headquarters in New...
of Colombia to the United Nations in Geneva from 29 January 2009 until his resignation on March 2010, in preparation for his election to the Vice Presidency
Colombian presidential election, 2010
The Colombian presidential election of 2010 took place under a two-round system, with an initial vote held on May 30 and a second poll held three weeks later on June 20. A referendum proposal that would have allowed incumbent President Álvaro Uribe the opportunity to run for a third term was...
.
Career
He has been a union leader for many labor union and in many positions among these General Secretary of the Central Union of WorkersCentral Union of Workers
The Central Union of Workers is a trade union centre in Colombia. It was formed in 1986, and in 2002 was the country's largest union federation, with 546,000 members.ICTUR reports that nearly 800 members of CUT were murdered between 1987 and 1992....
between 1981 and 1990. He later ran for congressman and was elected to become part of the Constituent Assembly of Colombia
Constituent Assembly of Colombia
The Constituent Assembly of Colombia was formed on February 5, 1991, to draft Colombia's 1991 constitution. It was dissolved in June 1991, after the new document was adopted nationwide.-Background:...
that created the Colombian Constitution of 1991
Colombian Constitution of 1991
The Political Constitution of Colombia, better known as the Constitution of 1991, is the current governing document of the Republic of Colombia. Promulgated on July 4 of 1991 , it replaced the Constitution of 1886...
. He also served as Vice President of the Patriotic Union Party
Patriotic Union (Colombia)
The Patriotic Union or UP , was a leftist Colombian political party founded by the FARC and the Colombian Communist Party in 1985, as part of the peace negotiations that the guerrillas held with the Conservative Belisario Betancur administration...
.
During the government of President Andrés Pastrana Garzon was appointed Ministry of Labour and Social Protection from 2000 until 2002. He was one of the ministers of Pastrana's administration with a popular positive image. After serving as minister he was proposed running for president but he declined. Garzon then participated as member of the facilitating Commission for the Humanitarian Accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army is a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary guerrilla organization based in Colombia which is involved in the ongoing Colombian armed conflict, currently involved in drug dealing and crimes against the civilians..FARC-EP is a peasant army which...
guerrilla group (FARC).
He then renounced to the commission to postulate his name for Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Valle del Cauca Department
Valle del Cauca Department
Valle del Cauca is a department of Colombia. It is in the western side of the country, facing the Pacific Ocean, and it is considered one of the most important departments in the Republic of Colombia. Its capital is Santiago de Cali...
. He was elected in 2003 with 60.69% of the votes and winning over Carlos Holmes Trujillo and Carlos José Holguín, this last candidate son of former senator Carlos Holguín Sardi
Carlos Holguín Sardi
Carlos Holguín Sardi is a lawyer and politician, member of the Colombian Conservative Party. Holguin has served two terms as Governor of Valle del Cauca Department, the first from September 1976 to September 1978 and the second one from January 1992 to December 1994...
.
During his administration as Governor of Valle del Cauca in 2006, he was criticized for a conflict that surged between a CISA S.A. Constructing Consortium in charge of widening and repairing the highway Cali
Calì
Calì, also written in English as Cali, is an Italian surname, widespread mainly in the Ionian side of Sicily.For the surname Calì is assumed the origin of the Greek word kalos , or from its Sanskrit root kali, "time."The surname refers to:...
–Candelaria
Candelaria, Valle del Cauca
Candelaria is a town and municipality located in the Department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia....
but which was never started and CISA S.A. sued the Valle del Cauca Department. Garzon and his cabinet called for a hunger strike to press for the courts for an outcome favorable for the department.
In June 2007 Garzon accompanied President Álvaro Uribe Vélez as part of the presidential delegation that traveled to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
pursuing the approval by the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
of the Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement
Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement
The United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement , is a bilateral free trade agreement between the United States and Colombia. Sometimes called the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, it was signed on November 22, 2006, by Deputy U.S...
between Colombia and the United States. Senador Jorge Enrique Robledo of 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...
party and one of the most critics of the trade agreement criticized Garzon and mentioned that Garzon had never been part of the Alternative Democratic Pole party nor he had been affiliated to the parties that formed the alliance Independent Democratic Pole
Independent Democratic Pole
The Independent Democratic Pole or , is a left-wing social democratic political party in Colombia.-Origins:...
or Democratic Alternative.