Uribe biography

Colombian presidential supervision from 2002 to 2010

Álvaro Uribe's term as the 31stpresident be in the region of Colombia began with his gain victory inauguration on August 7, 2002 and ended on August 7, 2010. Uribe, candidate of goodness Colombia First party of Antioquia, took office after a fateful victory about the Liberal entrant Horacio Serpa in the 2002 presidential election.

Four years ulterior, in the 2006 presidential discretion, he defeated the Democratic Shaft candidate, Carlos Gaviria, to pretend to be re-election. Uribe is the foremost president not to represent either of the two traditional parties, Liberal and Conservative.

Election

Main articles: 2002 Colombian presidential election point of view 2006 Colombian presidential election

Álvaro Uribe, who had been a associate of the Liberal party, ran in the 2002 presidential elections initially as a candidate mention his group.

However, the aspirant alleged a lack of guarantees to compete against former missionary and former presidential candidate Horacio Serpa, for which he throb himself as an independent favourite.

His main contenders were Serpa, representing the Liberal Party; foregoing union leader Luis Eduardo Garzón for the Independent Democratic Tallness, former minister Noemí Sanín expend the Yes, Colombia Movement deliver senator Íngrid Betancourt for position Green Oxygen Party.

Several openhanded leaders and the Conservative Challenging (which in those elections withdrew from the candidacy of one-time minister Juan Camilo Restrepo) gave their support to Uribe.^[1]

The elections were held in the halfway point of a strong security infuriate in the face of threats from the FARC-EP since they found the population that exact not come to vote engage said election.^[2]

Inauguration

Main articles: First onset of Álvaro Uribe and In the second place inauguration of Álvaro Uribe

Uribe was elected president of Colombia get as far as the period 2002-2006 with 53% of the total votes (5,862,655 votes), defeating his main sportsperson, Serpa, who obtained 31.8% acquire the votes (3,514,779 votes).; chic the first president to increase the elections in the chief round since the measure was established in the 1991 Style.

According to the National Record office of Civil Status, participation deck the elections was 46,471% (11,249,734 people) of the electoral reckoning .^[3]

Later it was learned make certain Uribe's campaign received 100 trillion pesos from the Uniapuestas deportment, in which Enilce López (alias "La Gata") was the manhood shareholder.^[4] Later, López was captured and charged with various improper charges.

for money laundering with diversion of funds, related give way to other judicial processes, despite that López has denied knowing take into consideration the check for Uribe's campaign.^[5] However, Uribe stated that negation illegal conduct was incurred in that in the 2002 Enilce López's companies were legally constituted.^[6]

On Sedate 7, 2002, Uribe's inauguration kind president took place in illustriousness Palacio de Nariño, the FARC-EP attacked near said building, sendoff a balance of 17 humans dead and another 20 livid by the explosion of smashing cylinder-pump; four spell mortars, duo of them hit the Statesmanly Guard battalion, leaving a lawman and a soldier injured, on the subject of in the Nariño Palace, mount the other in the Muted Cartucho sector, four blocks propagate the presidential palace.^[7]

Domestic policy

Security

As chairman, Uribe promoted his democratic protection policy (PSD) centered on several axes.^[8] On the one jostle, in recovering control of goodness territory from the State amputate the creation of high reach your peak battalions, of peasant soldier platoons, which they accompanied the Genealogical Police in several municipalities, participation networks and the offer exert a pull on rewards to informants.

On righteousness other, in attacking the tag end guards of the guerrillas.^[8]

The PSD included an increase in grandeur budget assigned to national defense; the increase in the power foot, the creation and contribution of new operational units, influence purchase of airplanes and helicopters, and the arrival in town centers with National Police stations; the professionalization and strengthening snatch the public force, the production of joint commands, the Ignoble of joint special operations tolerate elite groups of police illustrious army; the increase and supplement brace of intelligence, among others.^[9] Story addition, Uribe consolidated an league with the United States middling that the Colombian conflict was included in the war aspect terrorism, led by US Head George W.

Bush. Likewise, tight spot October 2002, Uribe suggested creating a contingent of Colombian flashy helmets to provide security average displaced persons in Colombia nearby help them return to their original homes.^[10]

However, in 2003 glory Uribe government was criticized pay money for the frustrated rescue attempt pick up the tab a group of hostages tab the hands of the FARC-EP, who, upon noticing the subservient, executed the hostages; the lecturer of Antioquia, Guillermo Gaviria; stool pigeon Defense Minister Gilberto Echeverri build up eight soldiers.^[11] Military operations bond urban centers were also criticized, such as Operation Orión radiate 2002 in Comuna 13 jammy Medellín, which left several citizenry missing.^[12][13]

Continuing with the PSD, injure mid-2003, Uribe moved to goodness department of Arauca, after imaginary public order problems arose entirely to the violence and destitution in the area.

The edge region with Venezuela was studied by the FARC-EP and loftiness paramilitaries of the United Protection Forces of Colombia (AUC). Uribe governed as president together extra his ministers from the be elastic of Arauca.^[14] On September 1 of the same year, Uribe also had to travel view the city of Cúcuta tend to reasons of public order.

Inconvenience addition to the FARC-EP topmost the AUC, the ELN additionally had a presence in justness border area with Venezuela. Soupзon March 2003, a vehicle rich with explosives had exploded lay hands on Cúcuta, leaving 13 dead bracket more than 60 injured.^[14]

A deliberate on Uribe's first year style president presented by the Colombian Military Forces, the fight break the rules the guerrillas showed positive prudent with 1,943 deaths and 8,109 detainees, all this in 1,630 combats fought with the horde since August 2002.^[15] However, many organizations released a book baptized "The Authoritarian Haunt".

The assassinate claimed that Uribe had ruptured his promises made in goodness presidential campaign and his policies were violating International Humanitarian Assemblage (IHL).^[16] Uribe responded to her highness detractors by classifying them jar three types "... theoretical critics that we respect but ball not share his thesis collide weakness.

Some serious human set forth organizations, which we respect direct welcome, with which we wish maintain a permanent dialogue turn into improve what needs to fleece improved... some human rights traffickers who should remove their front once and for all, come to light with their political ideas spell stop that cowardice of concealment their political ideas behind mortal rights.

Uribe described the dash as collaborators of the terrorists who used human rights type their purposes.^[16]

In this context a sprinkling attacks against Uribe were suave. The first of these, attributed to the FARC-EP, occurred make a fuss February 2003 when a due of dynamite exploded in Neiva at the time when police officers officers and the Prosecutor's Business carried out a security be persistent prior to Uribe's arrival lose ground that city, leaving 18 variety and 45 injured as put in order result.^[17] This did not take kidnappings from 2,986 to 800 per year during his gain victory presidency; homicides fell by 40.6 percent and the number pay the bill terrorist attacks, 62.5 percent; Assaults on towns went from 32 in 2002 to 5 show 2005.

Paramilitarism

As part of popular security, during Uribe's term recognized sought to negotiate with criminal groups such as the FARC-EP, the ELN and the Fto. The dialogues with the FARC-EP and the ELN did watchword a long way have major consequences in righteousness political field, but an inclusion in the desertion of those groups outside the law was seen, partly due to significance demobilization policy.

Negotiations with illustriousness leaders of said organizations were carried out with the Fto, which led to the method of demobilization of paramilitaries interchangeable Colombia, which was questioned surpass several critics who feared prowl the conditions were not adequate to prevent a degree expend impunity from existing around at once such as crimes against mankind or drug trafficking,^[18] as nicely as reparation for victims.^[19]

In June 2005, Clara López, leader hold the Polo Democrático Alternativo (PDA) denounced the alleged links extent congressmen with the United Self-defence Forces of Colombia (AUC), funding the statement by Salvatore Mancuso in which he stated wind 35 percent of the Relation of the Republic of Colombia were friends of his organization.^[20] From that moment on, unblended series of investigations were unleashed in Colombia that compromised diverse political allies and some corridors of power of the Uribe government sell illegal Colombian paramilitary groups problem what was called the "Parapolitics".

According to the investigations, a number of political leaders would have benefited from these alliances through aggression and armed action by force groups against the civilian population; some would have presumably reached positions in mayors' offices, councils, municipal assemblies and governorships, makeover well as in the Coition of the Republic and all over the place higher state bodies.

At representation same time, some of dignity politicians and officials from their posts would have diverted funds for the financing and reconstruct of illegal armed groups president would have leaked information halt facilitate and benefit the exploits of these groups, which encompass massacres, selective assassinations, forced displacements and other criminal actions.^[21]

At illustriousness same time, during Uribe's fame there were notable acts hillock massacres and forced disappearances through paramilitary groups, for which enthrone government was accused several age of having been "soft" take on the paramilitaries because this loved the fight against the irregular groups.^[22] Uribe considered for fulfil part that the demobilization influence the AUC led the total leadership of said organization side jail.^[23]

According to researchers from significance Javeriana University, analyzing the without delay to compliance with judicial heartfelt consigned in the Santa Disruption de Ralito Agreement, they crank that the quality of that factor was low at 44%, medium at 55% and lighten at 1%.

Up to at the moment, it has been an device with few guarantees of legitimacy, justice, reparation and non-repetition newborn the AUC.^[24]

Economy

According to figures foreordained in the 2005 balance addict the National Development Plan, excellence Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew 5.75 percent and the discharge rate went from 15.7 protect 11.8

In August 2002, authority Uribe government imposed as wonderful measure to finance the bristled conflict in Colombia the money tax to "address the crucial expenses to attend to egalitarian security",^[25] determining that the taxpayers of the tax would put right all income taxpayers with unplanned worth of more than 169.5 million Colombian pesos at primacy time.

The rate of uttered tax was 1.2%, being composed only once (in four installments). The collection reached 2.52 million pesos, including voluntary contributions, totaling 315,338 people, between companies beam individuals.^[26]

On the other hand, private house promote the tourism industry, interpretation Uribe government organized tourist telecommunications protected by public forces.

High-mindedness initiative was led by loftiness Ministry of Commerce, Industry explode Tourism in alliance with interpretation National Army, the National Boys in blue and the Ministry of Movement. These routes were called "Las Caravanas Vive Colombia" as subject of the democratic security curriculum proposed by Uribe.^[27]

Agriculture

During Uribe's rapidly term, more than 316,000 countryman producer families were beneficiaries resembling the Agro Ingreso Seguro (AIS) program.^[28] However, in October 2008 a scandal broke out just as the magazine Cambio denounced give it some thought the AIS had given subsidies to borrowers, among them they Mario Uribe, the president's cousin.^[29] Other beneficiaries gave money stumble upon uribista initiatives; 45 contributors end up the 2002 presidential campaign focus on 10 to the campaign see the failed referendum for Uribe's third re-election.^[30] This led loftiness Colombian government to try succumb obtain the return of mode from AIS in 2009.^[31]

As pure consequence of the embezzlement, illustriousness then Minister of Agriculture Andrés Felipe Arias, Uribe's possible state successor as a candidate cargo space the presidency, was investigated uninviting the attorney general's office, which disqualified him from holding common office for 16 years.^[32][33] Inaccuracy was subsequently arrested and malefactor of the crimes of purloining for appropriation in favor use your indicators third parties and entering come across contracts without complying with lawful requirements.^[34] The Superior Court advice Bogotá initially ordered his apprehend in 2011, however in 2013 he was granted provisional emancipation while he was advancing potentate trial.^[35] He was later sentenced by the Supreme Court sight Justice to 17 years curb prison and to pay pure fine of 30,800 million pesos.70 Initially he fled as swell fugitive from justice in birth United States^[36] where he was arrested by federal authorities soupзon compliance with a red communication from Interpol.

Uribe's former way tried to request political hospital arguing that he was justness victim of political persecution extra that he could be straight victim of torture, but government allegations were rejected by efficient federal judge and he was later extradited to Colombia. Drop on his return to Colombia, king image was publicly hidden viewpoint despite being convicted of degradation, he was housed in dinky private home on a combatant base, receiving privileged treatment.

Significance Government of Iván Duque comport yourself line with Uribe has legitimate the former minister to relinquish his prison and enjoy for all privileges while requesting his contained acquittal in court.^[37][38]

Judiciary

Relations between honesty executive and judicial branches nigh the Uribe government, and distinctively with the Supreme Court weekend away Justice, were tense, especially connect his second term.

The cardinal powers have accused each else of conspiracy, especially as fine result of the Parapolitics outrage, the Yidispolítica scandal and honourableness non-election of the attorney community by the High Courts devour the shortlist sent by prestige President of the Republic, according to the Political Constitution.^[39][40]

Foreign affairs

In January 2003, Uribe gave statements to Caracol Radio where let go asked the United States to hand make a military deployment sieve Colombia, "equivalent to the reminder being prepared in the Farsi Gulf," he mentioned in coherence to the Iraq War.^[41] Listed March, Uribe decided support primate a representative of Colombia nobleness invasion of Iraq.

Regarding significance United Nations Organization (UN), valve December 2002 Colombia was preferred to preside over the Cheer Council.^[42]

Political relations with Venezuela were initially cordial, although they decadent at times due to prestige traditional border conflict in nobility Gulf of Venezuela.

Uribe's dialectics for Bush and policies much as Democratic Security were distinctive of by supporters of Hugo Chávez's government and himself as a- threat to the Bolivarian Revolution.^[43]

One of the most tense situations arose as a result realize the Rodrigo Granda case. On the other hand in 2007 relations between representation two presidents deteriorated definitively aft Uribe authorized Hugo Chávez's adjudication in the Humanitarian Agreement build up three months later interrupted oral mediation.

This incident caused a- verbal confrontation between the stupendous through statements and public statements that ended up undermining help that had been cordial on hold now.^[44]

In 2008, relations with high-mindedness President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, deteriorated due to Operation Fénix, an incursion of the Colombian Military Forces into Ecuadorian zone, in which the FARC-EP leader alias "Raúl" was killed.

Reyes" and ties of said systematizing with members of various pandemic governments were found in description computers of Raúl Reyes.^[45]

On thought issues, his government has reserved out of the position sharing the United States, among them by maintaining bilateral relations awaken Cuba and not supporting formality against that nation at excellence UN.^[46][47]

References