Antonio Ledezma
Encyclopedia
Antonio José Ledezma Díaz (b. 1 May 1955, San Juan de los Morros
, Guárico
) is a Venezuelan lawyer and politician. After involvement in politics in his home state of Guárico in the 1970s for Democratic Action
, he served two terms in the Venezuelan Chamber of Deputies
(from 1984), and was elected to the Venezuelan Senate
in 1994. He then served as mayor of the Libertador Municipality
(1996–2000) of the Venezuelan Capital District
, having been appointed governor of the now-defunct Federal District (1992–1993) by Carlos Andrés Pérez
. After unsuccessfully challenging for the leadership of Democratic Action
in 1999, he founded a new party, the Fearless People's Alliance
.
In 2008, he challenged pro-Chavez PSUV/Fatherland for All candidate Aristobulo Isturiz
in the 2008 Caracas
mayoral election and won. Subsequent to his election, the Venezuelan National Assembly passed a Capital District Law on April 30, 2009 that transferred most functions, funding, and personnel of the Metropolitan Mayor of Caracas to a new Venezuelan Capital District (headed by Jacqueline Faría
, an official directly appointed by Hugo Chavez
) covering in particular the political centre of Caracas and the municipality of Libertador
. A legal challenge was filed and a request was filed with the National Electoral Council to hold a referendum, but these did not stop the transfer. Opponents of Chavez described the move as a deliberate negation of the popular vote, while supporters described the political and budgetary reorganization as an "act of justice" for Libertador
, the largest and poorest of the five municipalities making up Caracas.
Ledezma is a finalist for the 2010 World Mayor
prize.
San Juan de los Morros
San Juan de los Morros is the capital of the Guarico state and capital of the Juan Germán Roscio municipality, and is a town located in central Venezuela.- Overview :...
, Guárico
Guárico
Guárico State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is San Juan de Los Morros. Guárico State covers a total surface area of 64 986 km² and, in 2007, had an estimated population of 745,100.-Municipalities and municipal seats:...
) is a Venezuelan lawyer and politician. After involvement in politics in his home state of Guárico in the 1970s for Democratic Action
Democratic Action
Democratic Action is a centrist Venezuelan political party established in 1941. The party and its antecedents played an important role in the early years of Venezuelan democracy, and led the government during Venezuela's first democratic period...
, he served two terms in 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...
(from 1984), and was elected to the Venezuelan Senate
Venezuelan Senate
The Venezuelan Senate was the upper house of Venezuela's legislative under its 1961 constitution. Under the 1999 constitution, the bicameral system was replaced by the unicameral National Assembly of Venezuela....
in 1994. He then served as mayor of the Libertador Municipality
Libertador Municipality (Venezuelan Capital District)
The Libertador Bolivarian Municipality is the only administrative division of the Venezuelan Capital District and along with the municipalities of Baruta, Chacao, El Hatillo and Sucre forms the Metropolitan District of Caracas. It is located in the western portion of Caracas. It is landlocked by...
(1996–2000) of the Venezuelan Capital District
Venezuelan Capital District
The Capital District of Venezuela is a federal district corresponding to the capital Caracas. It has an area of 433 km² and there is only one administrative division , Libertador, which contains about half City of Caracas. It is the seat of the federal government and the head of the public...
, having been appointed governor of the now-defunct Federal District (1992–1993) by Carlos Andrés Pérez
Carlos Andrés Pérez
Carlos Andrés Pérez Rodríguez , also known as CAP and often referred to as El Gocho , was a Venezuelan politician, President of Venezuela from 1974 to 1979 and again from 1989 to 1993. His first presidency was known as the Saudi Venezuela due to its economic and social prosperity thanks to...
. After unsuccessfully challenging for the leadership of Democratic Action
Democratic Action
Democratic Action is a centrist Venezuelan political party established in 1941. The party and its antecedents played an important role in the early years of Venezuelan democracy, and led the government during Venezuela's first democratic period...
in 1999, he founded a new party, the Fearless People's Alliance
Fearless People's Alliance
The Fearless People's Alliance is a political party in Venezuela. At the Venezuelan parliamentary election, 2000 the party won 1 out of 165 seats in the National Assembly of Venezuela....
.
In 2008, he challenged pro-Chavez PSUV/Fatherland for All candidate Aristobulo Isturiz
Aristóbulo Istúriz
Aristóbulo Istúriz is a Venezuelan politician and academic. He was a professor at the Centro de Estudios del Desarrollo of the Universidad Central de Venezuela. He was elected to Parliament several times for Acción Democrática, representing the Federal District , before joining the Radical Cause...
in the 2008 Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
mayoral election and won. Subsequent to his election, the Venezuelan National Assembly passed a Capital District Law on April 30, 2009 that transferred most functions, funding, and personnel of the Metropolitan Mayor of Caracas to a new Venezuelan Capital District (headed by Jacqueline Faría
Jacqueline Faría
Jacqueline Faría is a Venezuelan politician. She is the Head of Government of the Venezuelan Capital District . She was previously the head of the state mobile phone company Movilnet Minister of Environment and Natural Resources , and head of Caracas' water company, Hidrocapital...
, an official directly appointed by Hugo Chavez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
) covering in particular the political centre of Caracas and the municipality of Libertador
Libertador
Libertador may refer to:*one of several people known as "Libertadores", particularly José de San Martín and Simón Bolívar*El Libertador, Buenos Aires, Argentina*Puerto Libertador, Colombia...
. A legal challenge was filed and a request was filed with the National Electoral Council to hold a referendum, but these did not stop the transfer. Opponents of Chavez described the move as a deliberate negation of the popular vote, while supporters described the political and budgetary reorganization as an "act of justice" for Libertador
Libertador
Libertador may refer to:*one of several people known as "Libertadores", particularly José de San Martín and Simón Bolívar*El Libertador, Buenos Aires, Argentina*Puerto Libertador, Colombia...
, the largest and poorest of the five municipalities making up Caracas.
Ledezma is a finalist for the 2010 World Mayor
World Mayor
World Mayor is a biennial award organized by The City Mayors Foundation since 2004. It intends to raise the profile of mayors worldwide, as well as honour those who have served their communities well and who have contributed to the well-being of cities, nationally and internationally...
prize.