Jorge Colazo
Encyclopedia
Jorge Colazo, "El Potro", (b. 4 March 1954, Río Tercero, Córdoba Province
) is an Argentine
Radical Civic Union
(UCR) politician. He sits in the Argentine Senate
representing Tierra del Fuego Province in the majority block of the Front for Victory
and was formerly governor of that province.
Colazo attended primary school in Córdoba before moving to Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego
for his secondary education. He was involved in various community organisations. During the Falklands War
he served in civil protection in Río Grande.
From an early age, Colazo was involved in the UCR and held senior positions in the party at provincial and national levels. From 1989 to 1991 he served as a Río Grande councillor and in 1991 he was elected Mayor of Río Grande, serving until 1999. In that year he stood as candidate for governor of the Province. From January 2000 he worked as Head of the Social Services for Pensioners for the Province until 2001.
In 2001 Colazo was elected as Senator. Then in 2003 he was elected as governor of the province, defeating incumbent Peronist
Carlos Manfredotti and taking office in January 2004 with Hugo Cóccaro
as his vice-governor. Although a Radical, he was by now identified with the attempt at political consensus of the new President
, Peronist Néstor Kirchner
, and was seen as one of the leading' Radicales K' . Indeed Cóccaro was a Justicialist
, although he had been a supporter of the anti-Kirchner Peronist leader Adolfo Rodríguez Saá
against Kirchner for the Presidency.
The relationship between Colazo and Cóccaro soon deteriorated, to the extent that Colazo even accused his deputy of involvement in plans to assassinate him. Colazo had also been isolated from his party, who had suspended him for his links with the Peronists. He was put under investigation by the provincial legislature for misuse of municipal funds in Río Grande and for bypassing the legislature when making budget decisions in 2004, and in September 2005 he was suspended as governor. He was impeached in December 2005 and Cóccaro formally took over.
In 2007 Colazo stood for and was re-elected to the Senate, heading the Federalist Union list. He sits with the Kirchners' Front for Victory. However in March 2008, a Tierra del Fuego court requested that the Senate expel him in connection with the ongoing allegations relating to improper use of funds while Mayor of Río Grande. This would allow Colazo to be prosecuted.
Córdoba Province (Argentina)
Córdoba is a province of Argentina, located in the center of the country. Neighboring provinces are : Santiago del Estero, Santa Fe, Buenos Aires, La Pampa, San Luis, La Rioja and Catamarca...
) is an Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
Radical Civic Union
Radical Civic Union
The Radical Civic Union is a political party in Argentina. The party's positions on issues range from liberal to social democratic. The UCR is a member of the Socialist International. Founded in 1891 by radical liberals, it is the oldest political party active in Argentina...
(UCR) politician. He sits in the Argentine Senate
Argentine Senate
The Argentine Senate is the upper house of the Argentine National Congress. It has 72 senators: three for each province and three for the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires...
representing Tierra del Fuego Province in the majority block of the Front for Victory
Front for Victory
The Front for Victory is a Peronist political party and electoral alliance in Argentina, although it is formally a faction of the Justicialist Party. Both the former President Néstor Kirchner and the current President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner belong to this party, located on the left-wing...
and was formerly governor of that province.
Colazo attended primary school in Córdoba before moving to Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego
Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego
-External links:* * * *...
for his secondary education. He was involved in various community organisations. During the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
he served in civil protection in Río Grande.
From an early age, Colazo was involved in the UCR and held senior positions in the party at provincial and national levels. From 1989 to 1991 he served as a Río Grande councillor and in 1991 he was elected Mayor of Río Grande, serving until 1999. In that year he stood as candidate for governor of the Province. From January 2000 he worked as Head of the Social Services for Pensioners for the Province until 2001.
In 2001 Colazo was elected as Senator. Then in 2003 he was elected as governor of the province, defeating incumbent Peronist
Peronism
Peronism , or Justicialism , is an Argentine political movement based on the programmes associated with former President Juan Perón and his second wife, Eva Perón...
Carlos Manfredotti and taking office in January 2004 with Hugo Cóccaro
Hugo Cóccaro
Hugo Omar Cóccaro is an Argentine Justicialist Party politician, former governor of Tierra del Fuego Province ....
as his vice-governor. Although a Radical, he was by now identified with the attempt at political consensus of the new President
President of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
, Peronist Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Carlos Kirchner was an Argentine politician who served as the 54th President of Argentina from 25 May 2003 until 10 December 2007. Previously, he was Governor of Santa Cruz Province since 10 December 1991. He briefly served as Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations ...
, and was seen as one of the leading
Justicialist Party
The Justicialist Party , or PJ, is a Peronist political party in Argentina, and the largest component of the Peronist movement.The party was led by Néstor Kirchner, President of Argentina from 2003 to 2007, until his death on October 27, 2010. The current Argentine president, Cristina Fernández de...
, although he had been a supporter of the anti-Kirchner Peronist leader Adolfo Rodríguez Saá
Adolfo Rodríguez Saá
Adolfo Rodríguez Saá Páez Montero is an Argentine Peronist politician. He was the governor of the province of San Luis during several terms, and briefly served as President of Argentina.-Biography:...
against Kirchner for the Presidency.
The relationship between Colazo and Cóccaro soon deteriorated, to the extent that Colazo even accused his deputy of involvement in plans to assassinate him. Colazo had also been isolated from his party, who had suspended him for his links with the Peronists. He was put under investigation by the provincial legislature for misuse of municipal funds in Río Grande and for bypassing the legislature when making budget decisions in 2004, and in September 2005 he was suspended as governor. He was impeached in December 2005 and Cóccaro formally took over.
In 2007 Colazo stood for and was re-elected to the Senate, heading the Federalist Union list. He sits with the Kirchners' Front for Victory. However in March 2008, a Tierra del Fuego court requested that the Senate expel him in connection with the ongoing allegations relating to improper use of funds while Mayor of Río Grande. This would allow Colazo to be prosecuted.