Alfonso López Michelsen
Alfonso López Michelsen (30 June 1913 – 11 July 2007) was the 24th President of Colombia from 1974 to 1978. López was the son of former two time president of Colombia, Alfonso López Pumarejo. He was born and raised in Bogotá.
Alfonso López Michelsen | |
|---|---|
 President López in 1977. | |
| 24th President of Colombia | |
| In office 7 August 1974 – 7 August 1978 | |
| Preceded by | Misael Pastrana Borrero |
| Succeeded by | Julio César Turbay Ayala |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia | |
| In office 14 August 1968 – 7 August 1970 | |
| President | Carlos Lleras Restrepo |
| Preceded by | Germán Zea Hernández |
| Succeeded by | Alfredo Vázquez Carrizosa |
| 1st Governor of Cesar | |
| In office 21 December 1967 – 14 August 1968 | |
| President | Carlos Lleras Restrepo |
| Succeeded by | Luis Roberto García Díaz-Granados |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 June 1913 Bogotá, D.C., Colombia |
| Died | 11 July 2007 (aged 94) Bogotá, D.C., Colombia |
| Resting place | Central Cemetery of Bogotá |
| Nationality | Colombian |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse(s) | Cecilia Caballero Blanco (1938–2007) |
| Relations | Alfonso López Pumarejo (father) |
| Children |
|
| Alma mater | Our Lady of the Rosary University (JD, 1937) |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Presidency
In 1974, López was selected by the Liberal Party in as their candidate for president after defeating former president Carlos Lleras Restrepo in the party presidential primaries. He won the general election by a large margin against the Conservative Party candidate Álvaro Gómez Hurtado and the ANAPO candidate, María Eugenia Rojas.
In his inaugural speech on August 7, 1974, López was mostly remembered for calling the border disputed area in the Gulf of Venezuela by its native name "Gulf of Coquibacoa" given by the wayuus. On September 14, 1977 in Bogotá a bloody riot started in all sections of the city, the riot was called The National Civic Strike. The two days riot left a death toll of 80 people, and 2000 people injured.
Post-presidency
Upon the end of his term in 1978, he again became the leader of Liberal Party. He ran for president again in 1982, but was defeated by the Conservative Party candidate, Belisario Betancur.
Death
Lopez Michelsen died in Bogotá on July 11, 2007 after suffering a heart attack.[1]
References
- ↑ "Noticias políticas de Colombia - ELTIEMPO.COM -> Alfonso López Michelsen 1913-2007". Archived from the original on 2007-07-14. Retrieved 2017-09-17.
Other websites
- (in Spanish) MOIR: the six lies of President Lopez Archived 2007-06-22 at the Wayback Machine
- (in Spanish) EL TIEMPO: Alfonso López Michelsen 1913-2007 Archived 2007-07-14 at the Wayback Machine