Alfonso López Michelsen

32 President of Colombia from 1974 to 1978

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 (1974-08-07) – 7 August 1978 (1978-08-07)
Preceded byMisael Pastrana Borrero
Succeeded byJulio César Turbay Ayala
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia
In office
14 August 1968 (1968-08-14) – 7 August 1970 (1970-08-07)
PresidentCarlos Lleras Restrepo
Preceded byGermán Zea Hernández
Succeeded byAlfredo Vázquez Carrizosa
1st Governor of Cesar
In office
21 December 1967 (1967-12-21) – 14 August 1968 (1968-08-14)
PresidentCarlos Lleras Restrepo
Succeeded byLuis Roberto García Díaz-Granados
Personal details
Born(1913-06-30)30 June 1913
Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
Died11 July 2007(2007-07-11) (aged 94)
Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
Resting placeCentral Cemetery of Bogotá
NationalityColombian
Political partyLiberal
Spouse(s)Cecilia Caballero Blanco (1938–2007)
RelationsAlfonso López Pumarejo (father)
Children
Alma materOur Lady of the Rosary University (JD, 1937)
ProfessionLawyer

Presidency

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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

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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.

Lopez Michelsen died in Bogotá on July 11, 2007 after suffering a heart attack.[1]

References

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  1. "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

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