Rodrigo Rivera Salazar
Encyclopedia
Rodrigo Rivera Salazar (born 20 April 1963) is a Colombian politician. A lawyer, and journalist by trade, Rivera served in the Congress
first as a Member of the Chamber of Representatives
for two terms from 1990 to 1998, and then as Senator of Colombia for two terms from 1998 to 2006, when he retired from Congress to run, ultimately unsuccessfully, for the 2006 Liberal
presidential nomination. In 2010, Rivera was appointed Minister of National Defence
of Colombia
by President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón and served until his resignation the following year.
Fresh out of College, he was elected Councilman to the Pereira
City Council at the age of 20 and served on it until 1989, during this time he also worked as Professor of Constitutional Law
at his alma mater, the Free University of Pereira, and wrote as a collumnist for the nationally syndicated newspaper of El Espectador
, and the local newspaper La Tarde. In 1997 he was recognized by the Junior Chamber International
as an Outstanding Young Persons of the World for his work as President of the Chamber of Representatives during the impeachment
trial against President Ernesto Samper Pizano. In 2003 he was elected President of the Colombia Liberal Party Directorate. In 2007, in his first break from politics, he attended the Washington College of Law
as a Humphrey Fellow, specializing in Economic Development
and Human Rights
.
On 31 August 2011, President Santos announced the resignation of Minister Rivera and offered him the post of Ambassador of Colombia to Belgium
that is concurrently accredited to Luxembourg
and the European Union
. His appointment is pending confirmation while the receiving countries send their letters of approval, and he remains Minister of National Defence until his successor, Juan Carlos Pinzón Bueno
is sworn in.
, Rivera threw his support behind Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, Uribe's Minister of Defence and presidential nominee for the Party of the U, becoming the Political Manager of Santo's campaign.
When Santos won the Colombian presidential election, 2010
, he named Rivera Minister of National Defence on 28 July 2010, pending his inauguration into office, and when this took place on 7 August 2010, Rivera was sworn in as the new Minister of National Defence.
Congress of Colombia
The Congress of the Republic of Colombia is the name given to Colombia's bicameral national legislature.The Congress of Colombia consists of the 102-seat Senate , and the 166-seat Chamber of Representatives ...
first as a Member of the Chamber of Representatives
Chamber of Representatives of Colombia
The Chamber of Representatives is the lower house of the Congress of Colombia.The Chamber has 166 elected members for four-year terms.-How the Chamber is elected:...
for two terms from 1990 to 1998, and then as Senator of Colombia for two terms from 1998 to 2006, when he retired from Congress to run, ultimately unsuccessfully, for the 2006 Liberal
Colombian 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...
presidential nomination. In 2010, Rivera was appointed Minister of National Defence
Ministry of National Defense (Colombia)
The Ministry of National Defence , is the national executive ministry of the Government of Colombia charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government relating directly to national security and the armed forces of Colombia, similar to the defense ministries in...
of Colombia
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...
by President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón and served until his resignation the following year.
Fresh out of College, he was elected Councilman to the Pereira
Pereira, Colombia
Pereira is the capital city of the Colombian department of Risaralda. It stands in the center of the western region of the country, located in a small valley that descends from a part of the western Andes mountain chain. Its strategic location in the coffee producing area makes the city an urban...
City Council at the age of 20 and served on it until 1989, during this time he also worked as Professor of Constitutional Law
Constitutional law
Constitutional law is the body of law which defines the relationship of different entities within a state, namely, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary....
at his alma mater, the Free University of Pereira, and wrote as a collumnist for the nationally syndicated newspaper of El Espectador
El Espectador
El Espectador is a newspaper with national circulation within Colombia, founded by Fidel Cano Gutiérrez on 22 March 1887 in Medellín and published since 1915 in Bogotá...
, and the local newspaper La Tarde. In 1997 he was recognized by the Junior Chamber International
Junior Chamber International
Junior Chamber International is the only worldwide non-political and non-sectarian youth service organization. It is an international community of citizens between the ages of to with the aim and purpose of creating positive changes in the world...
as an Outstanding Young Persons of the World for his work as President of the Chamber of Representatives during the impeachment
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
trial against President Ernesto Samper Pizano. In 2003 he was elected President of the Colombia Liberal Party Directorate. In 2007, in his first break from politics, he attended the Washington College of Law
Washington College of Law
American University Washington College of Law is the law school of American University. It is located on Massachusetts Avenue in the Spring Valley neighborhood of northwest Washington. WCL is ranked 50th among law schools by US News and World Report...
as a Humphrey Fellow, specializing in Economic Development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
and Human Rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
.
On 31 August 2011, President Santos announced the resignation of Minister Rivera and offered him the post of Ambassador of Colombia to Belgium
Ambassador of Colombia to Belgium
The Colombian Ambassador to Belgium is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Colombia to the Kingdom of Belgium, accredited as Concurrent Non-Resident Ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and the European Union....
that is concurrently accredited to Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
and the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. His appointment is pending confirmation while the receiving countries send their letters of approval, and he remains Minister of National Defence until his successor, Juan Carlos Pinzón Bueno
Juan Carlos Pinzón Bueno
Juan Carlos Pinzón Bueno is the current Minister of National Defence of Colombia.-Background:A graduate of the Pontifical Xavierian University, he holds a Bachelor and a Master of Economics from his alma mater where he also worked as Professor of Macroeconomics in the Department of Economics from...
is sworn in.
Minister of Defence
Upon his return to Colombia in 2009, Rivera supported the controversial proposal for a third presidential term for President Álvaro Uribe Vélez, an action that led him to step down from the ranks of the Liberal Party and join the Social Party of National Unity or "Party of the U" to more openly support Uribe. When it was announced that Uribe would not run for re-election because of the ruling passed down by Constitutional Court of ColombiaConstitutional Court of Colombia
The Constitutional Court of Colombia is the highest entity in the judicial branch of government in the Republic of Colombia in charge of safeguarding the integrity and supremacy of the Colombian Constitution of 1991 within the Constitutional laws.However it is not the highest court of criminal...
, Rivera threw his support behind Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, Uribe's Minister of Defence and presidential nominee for the Party of the U, becoming the Political Manager of Santo's campaign.
When Santos won the Colombian presidential election, 2010
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...
, he named Rivera Minister of National Defence on 28 July 2010, pending his inauguration into office, and when this took place on 7 August 2010, Rivera was sworn in as the new Minister of National Defence.