Fernando Elizondo Barragán
Encyclopedia
Fernando Elizondo Barragán is a Mexican
Senator
affiliated to the National Action Party
. He was the interim governor of Nuevo León
(2003) and former Secretary of Energy
in the cabinet of President Vicente Fox
.
Fernando Elizondo was born in Monterrey
, Nuevo León
, into an upper-class family formed by a prominent local politician, Eduardo Elizondo Lozano, and Laura Barragán. He completed most of his basic studies in Catholic institutions and graduated with honors from the Autonomous University of Nuevo León with a degree in law. In 1971 he received an MBA from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Studies.
He started as a lawyer in a well-known law firm founded by his father and in 1980 took over the legal department of Hojalata y Lámina, S.A. (HYLSA), a renowned corporation in the metal industry. Later on he presided over several business chambers, including the local chapter of the National Chamber of Commerce (CANACO) until 1995, when he led the financial restructuring of Grupo Salinas y Rocha, a national chain of furniture and department store
s. He left the company in August 1997.
, a conservative businessman, was sworn as the first National Action Party (PAN) governor in the history of Nuevo León and Elizondo was invited to the cabinet. He served as the State Secretary of Finance and General Treasurer from 1997 until March 2002, when he left the post to compete for the PAN candidacy to the state governorship, which he lost against Mauricio Fernández Garza
, a wealthy cultural promoter and former senator.
In January 2003 Canales resigned as governor to assume the Secretariat of Economy in the cabinet of Vicente Fox. A few days later, the Congress of Nuevo León
appointed Elizondo Barragán as an interim. His administration greatly improved the public perception of the conservative government but not enough to reverse the voters animosity towards his party, a tendency largely inherited from the Canales administration. On January 2, 2003 Natividad González Parás
, a leading opponent to his predecessor during the 1997 elections regained the governorship for the Institutional Revolutionary Party
(PRI).
After leaving the governorship, Elizondo served briefly as a presidential liaison in several national tax conventions. On June 1, 2004 he was appointed Secretary of Energy by President Fox substituting Felipe Calderón
, who resigned to compete for the PAN presidential candidacy in the 2006 Mexican Federal Election
. As a Federal secretary, Elizondo faced a fierce opposition by the trade union
s and the opposition parties in Congress
to a constitutional amendment that would allow private investment and competition in the national oil
and electricity
markets.
He was elected Senator of the Republic
in the 2006 Mexican Federal Election
.
website.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
Senator
Senate of Mexico
The Senate of the Republic, constitutionally Chamber of Senators of the Honorable Congress of the Union After a series of reforms during the 1990s, it is now made up of 128 senators:...
affiliated to the National Action Party
National Action Party (Mexico)
The National Action Party , is one of the three main political parties in Mexico. The party's political platform is generally considered Centre-Right in the Mexican political spectrum. Since 2000, the President of Mexico has been a member of this party; both houses have PAN pluralities, but the...
. He was the interim governor of Nuevo León
Governor of Nuevo León
The Mexican state of Nuevo León has been governed by more than a hundred individuals in its history, who have had various titles and degrees of responsibility depending on the prevailing political regime of the time....
(2003) and former Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Energy (Mexico)
The Secretariat of Energy is the government department in charge of energy production and regulation in Mexico. The Secretary of Energy is a member of the Executive Cabinet. The current Secretary of Energy is Georgina Kessel.-External links:...
in the cabinet of President Vicente Fox
Vicente Fox
Vicente Fox Quesada is a Mexican former politician who served as President of Mexico from 1 December 2000 to 30 November 2006 and currently serves as co-President of the Centrist Democrat International, an international organization of Christian democratic political parties.Fox was elected...
.
Fernando Elizondo was born in Monterrey
Monterrey
Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
, Nuevo León
Nuevo León
Nuevo León It is located in Northeastern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east, San Luis Potosí to the south, and Coahuila to the west. To the north, Nuevo León has a 15 kilometer stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S...
, into an upper-class family formed by a prominent local politician, Eduardo Elizondo Lozano, and Laura Barragán. He completed most of his basic studies in Catholic institutions and graduated with honors from the Autonomous University of Nuevo León with a degree in law. In 1971 he received an MBA from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Studies.
He started as a lawyer in a well-known law firm founded by his father and in 1980 took over the legal department of Hojalata y Lámina, S.A. (HYLSA), a renowned corporation in the metal industry. Later on he presided over several business chambers, including the local chapter of the National Chamber of Commerce (CANACO) until 1995, when he led the financial restructuring of Grupo Salinas y Rocha, a national chain of furniture and department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
s. He left the company in August 1997.
Political career
In October 1997 Fernando CanalesFernando Canales Clariond
Fernando de Jesús Canales Clariond is a Mexican politician and businessman affiliated to the National Action Party . He succeeded his cousin, Benjamín Clariond as governor of Nuevo León in 1997...
, a conservative businessman, was sworn as the first National Action Party (PAN) governor in the history of Nuevo León and Elizondo was invited to the cabinet. He served as the State Secretary of Finance and General Treasurer from 1997 until March 2002, when he left the post to compete for the PAN candidacy to the state governorship, which he lost against Mauricio Fernández Garza
Mauricio Fernández Garza
Mauricio Fernández Garza is a Mexican politician and businessman directly related to the Fernández Ruiloba wealthy and prominent family; owners of PYOSA . He is currently mayor of San Pedro Garza García, former senator and current member of the board of Grupo Alfa, a Monterrey-based chemical, food...
, a wealthy cultural promoter and former senator.
In January 2003 Canales resigned as governor to assume the Secretariat of Economy in the cabinet of Vicente Fox. A few days later, the Congress of Nuevo León
Congress of Nuevo León
The Congress of the State of Nuevo León is the legislative branch of the government of the Mexican state of Nuevo León. The congress is the governmental deliberative body of Nuevo León, which is equal to, and independent of, the executive...
appointed Elizondo Barragán as an interim. His administration greatly improved the public perception of the conservative government but not enough to reverse the voters animosity towards his party, a tendency largely inherited from the Canales administration. On January 2, 2003 Natividad González Parás
Natividad González Parás
José Natividad González Parás is a Mexican politician affiliated to the Institutional Revolutionary Party. He is a former federal deputy and former governor of Nuevo León He is also married to Cristina Maiz...
, a leading opponent to his predecessor during the 1997 elections regained the governorship for the Institutional Revolutionary Party
Institutional Revolutionary Party
The Institutional Revolutionary Party is a Mexican political party that held power in the country—under a succession of names—for more than 70 years. The PRI is a member of the Socialist International, as is the rival Party of the Democratic Revolution , making Mexico one of the few...
(PRI).
After leaving the governorship, Elizondo served briefly as a presidential liaison in several national tax conventions. On June 1, 2004 he was appointed Secretary of Energy by President Fox substituting Felipe Calderón
Felipe Calderón
Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa is the current President of Mexico. He assumed office on December 1, 2006, and was elected for a single six-year term through 2012...
, who resigned to compete for the PAN presidential candidacy in the 2006 Mexican Federal Election
Mexican general election, 2006
A general election was held in Mexico on Sunday, July 2, 2006. Voters went to the polls to elect, on the federal level:*A new President of the Republic to serve a six-year term, replacing then Mexican President Vicente Fox .*500 members to serve for a...
. As a Federal secretary, Elizondo faced a fierce opposition by the trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s and the opposition parties in Congress
Congress of Mexico
The Congress of the Union is the legislative branch of the Mexican government...
to a constitutional amendment that would allow private investment and competition in the national oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
and electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
markets.
He was elected Senator of the Republic
Senate of Mexico
The Senate of the Republic, constitutionally Chamber of Senators of the Honorable Congress of the Union After a series of reforms during the 1990s, it is now made up of 128 senators:...
in the 2006 Mexican Federal Election
Mexican general election, 2006
A general election was held in Mexico on Sunday, July 2, 2006. Voters went to the polls to elect, on the federal level:*A new President of the Republic to serve a six-year term, replacing then Mexican President Vicente Fox .*500 members to serve for a...
.
External links
Secretariat of Energy:Fernando Elizondo. Profile at the National Action PartyNational Action Party (Mexico)
The National Action Party , is one of the three main political parties in Mexico. The party's political platform is generally considered Centre-Right in the Mexican political spectrum. Since 2000, the President of Mexico has been a member of this party; both houses have PAN pluralities, but the...
website.