Carlos Lleras Restrepo
Encyclopedia
Carlos Lleras Restrepo (April 12, 1908 – September 27, 1994) was a Colombia
n lawyer and political figure, President of Colombia (1966–1970).
, on April 12, 1908. He was the third son of the prominent physician and researcher, Dr. Federico Lleras. He died in Bogotá, on September 27, 1994.
.The oldest inter-collegiate Greek-letter organization established for Latino Americans.
, another important Colombian politician and President of Colombia. Married to Cecilia de la Fuente, Lleras was the father of Clemencia (d) - mother of Senator German Vargas Lleras-, Carlos - lawyer, journalist and former Ambassador of Colombia in the USA-, Maria Ines (d) and Fernando - poet, writer and musician.
. Lleras is elected to the state senate of Cundinamarca
, and later MP as congressman in the House of Representatives.
In 1932, during the so called “Liberal Republic”, Lleras is appointed General Comptroller of the country and in 1938 he is appointed as Minister of Finance (Ministro de Hacienda) during the presidency of Eduardo Santos
. He is elected as Chairman of the Liberal Party several times and Senator of the Republic.
Lleras runs for president of Colombia for the first time in 1944, but his bid is unsuccessful. Later, on November 27, 1965, he accepts the nomination of the liberal party, and receives the endorsement of the conservative party. This makes him the official candidate of the “National Front
”, and he wins the election in 1966.
After the presidency, Lleras founded and produced the political magazine “Nueva Frontera”.
During his administration, the Colombian Institute for Agrarian Reform (INCORA) promoted the redistribution of usable land to the peasants and unemployed workers in the country, issuing more than 60,000 titles in 1968 and 1969 alone.
Lleras implemented an aggressive and broad program of social and economic reforms and created the following agencies and institutions: the national savings fund (“Fondo Nacional del Ahorro”); the Colombian Institute for the family wellbeing (“Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar”); the institute to protect non renewable resources (“Instituto de Recursos Naturales no Renovables”); the agency to promote exports (“Fondo de Promoción de Exportaciones” ‘PROEXPO’); the national agency of Colombian culture (“Instituto Colombiano de Cultura” ‘Colcultura’); the nacional agency for the construction of schools (“Instituto Colombiano de Construcciones Escolares” ‘Icce’); and the national institution to promote and finance superior education (“Instituto Colombiano para el Fomento de la Educación Superior” ‘Icfes’).
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 lawyer and political figure, President of Colombia (1966–1970).
Biographic data
Lleras was born 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...
, on April 12, 1908. He was the third son of the prominent physician and researcher, Dr. Federico Lleras. He died in Bogotá, on September 27, 1994.
Early life
Lleras studied in La Salle Institute in Bogotá and later studied jurisprudence at Universidad Nacional de Colombia. He obtained his Law degree in 1930. He was also a member of Phi Iota AlphaPhi Iota Alpha
Phi Iota Alpha , established December 26, 1931, is the oldest Latino fraternity still in existence, and works to motivate people, develop leaders, and create innovative ways to unite the Latino community. The organization has roots that stem back to the late 19th century to the first Latino...
.The oldest inter-collegiate Greek-letter organization established for Latino Americans.
Private life
Lleras was a cousin of Alberto Lleras CamargoAlberto Lleras Camargo
Alberto Lleras Camargo was an important Colombian diplomat and political figure.He was a member of the Liberal Party of Colombia; he served as congressman , Minister of Education, Minister of the Interior and Minister of Foreign Affairs, during the governments of Alfonso López Pumarejo and Eduardo...
, another important Colombian politician and President of Colombia. Married to Cecilia de la Fuente, Lleras was the father of Clemencia (d) - mother of Senator German Vargas Lleras-, Carlos - lawyer, journalist and former Ambassador of Colombia in the USA-, Maria Ines (d) and Fernando - poet, writer and musician.
Political career
Lleras became involved in politics at an early age. In 1929, he is elected by the liberal party as delegate to the National Convention of Apulo. By age 21 he was a member in the national committee of the Colombian Liberal PartyColombian Liberal Party
The Colombian Liberal Party is a center-left party in Colombia that adheres to social democracy and social liberalism.The Party was founded in 1848 and, together with the Colombian Conservative Party, subsequently became one of the two main political forces in the country for over a century.After...
. Lleras is elected to the state senate of Cundinamarca
Cundinamarca Department
- Origin of the name :The name of Cundinamarca comes from Kundur marqa, an indigenous expression, probably derived from Quechua. Meaning "Condor's Nest", it was used in pre-Columbian times by the natives of the Magdalena Valley to refer to the nearby highlands....
, and later MP as congressman in the House of Representatives.
In 1932, during the so called “Liberal Republic”, Lleras is appointed General Comptroller of the country and in 1938 he is appointed as Minister of Finance (Ministro de Hacienda) during the presidency of 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...
. He is elected as Chairman of the Liberal Party several times and Senator of the Republic.
Lleras runs for president of Colombia for the first time in 1944, but his bid is unsuccessful. Later, on November 27, 1965, he accepts the nomination of the liberal party, and receives the endorsement of the conservative party. This makes him the official candidate of the “National Front
National Front (Colombia)
National Front was a period in the history of Colombia in which the two main political parties; Liberal Party and Conservative Party agreed to let the opposite party govern, intercalating for a period of four presidential terms....
”, and he wins the election in 1966.
After the presidency, Lleras founded and produced the political magazine “Nueva Frontera”.
The Presidency
Lleras is inaugurated as President of Colombia on August 7, 1966, and he calls his administration de era of national transformation (“Transformación Nacional”).During his administration, the Colombian Institute for Agrarian Reform (INCORA) promoted the redistribution of usable land to the peasants and unemployed workers in the country, issuing more than 60,000 titles in 1968 and 1969 alone.
Lleras implemented an aggressive and broad program of social and economic reforms and created the following agencies and institutions: the national savings fund (“Fondo Nacional del Ahorro”); the Colombian Institute for the family wellbeing (“Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar”); the institute to protect non renewable resources (“Instituto de Recursos Naturales no Renovables”); the agency to promote exports (“Fondo de Promoción de Exportaciones” ‘PROEXPO’); the national agency of Colombian culture (“Instituto Colombiano de Cultura” ‘Colcultura’); the nacional agency for the construction of schools (“Instituto Colombiano de Construcciones Escolares” ‘Icce’); and the national institution to promote and finance superior education (“Instituto Colombiano para el Fomento de la Educación Superior” ‘Icfes’).