Álvaro Colom facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Álvaro Colom
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Colom in 2009
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| 47th President of Guatemala | |
| In office 14 January 2008 – 14 January 2012 |
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| Vice President | Rafael Espada |
| Preceded by | Óscar Berger |
| Succeeded by | Otto Pérez Molina |
| Secretary General of the National Unity of Hope | |
| In office 20 May 2003 – 14 April 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Jairo Flores |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Álvaro Colom Caballeros
15 June 1951 Guatemala City, Guatemala |
| Died | 23 January 2023 (aged 71) Guatemala City, Guatemala |
| Political party | UNE |
| Spouse | |
| Alma mater | University of San Carlos of Guatemala |
| Signature |  |
Álvaro Colom Caballeros (born 15 June 1951 – died 23 January 2023) was an important figure in Guatemala. He was an engineer and businessman before becoming a politician. Colom served as the President of Guatemala from 2008 to 2012. He was also the leader of a political group called the National Unity of Hope (UNE).
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Early Life and Career
Álvaro Colom was born in Guatemala City, the capital of Guatemala. His parents were Antonio Colom Argueta and Yolanda Caballeros Ferraté. He was one of five children in his family. His uncle, Manuel Colom Argueta, was a mayor of Guatemala City. Sadly, his uncle was killed in 1979.
Colom studied at the University of San Carlos. He earned a degree in industrial engineering. After finishing school, he worked in different businesses. He also worked for the government. He helped start the National Fund for Peace. He was also a Vice Minister of the Economy.
Entering Politics
Colom decided to get involved in politics. He joined the National Unity of Hope (UNE) party. In the 2003 presidential elections, he ran for president. He came very close to winning but lost to Óscar Berger. This was the closest a candidate with similar political ideas had come to winning since Guatemala became a democracy again in 1985.
As President of Guatemala
Colom ran for president again in the 2007 election. He made it to the second round of voting. His opponent was Otto Pérez Molina from the Patriotic Party. On 9 September 2007, Colom was announced as the new president. He won with about 52.7% of the votes. This made him the first president in 53 years with similar political views to his.
During his campaign, Colom promised to help reduce poverty. He also wanted to lower the amount of crime in the country.
Helping People and Improving Services
As president, Colom worked to expand social programs. These programs helped people get better access to health care and education. They also improved social security, which helps people when they are sick or old. These efforts helped improve the lives of many poor people in Guatemala.
Working for a Better Police Force
In 2010, President Colom asked Helen Mack Chang to help. She is a well-known person who works for human rights. Her job was to look into how the police worked. She also made suggestions on how to make the police force better. She noted that police officers needed better pay and working conditions.
Colom did not support the death penalty. However, he said he would respect the country's laws. The last execution in Guatemala happened in 2000. The death penalty for civilian crimes was removed in 2017.
Later Life and Passing
Álvaro Colom had two children with his first wife, Patricia Szarata. Their names are Antonio and Patricia. Antonio Colom Szarata is a bass player in a band called "Viento en Contra." Colom later married Sandra Torres in 2002. She became the First Lady during his presidency.
In 2011, Colom and Sandra Torres divorced. This was so Sandra Torres could run for president in the 2011 presidential election. The country's rules say that close family members of a president cannot run for the same job.
On 23 January 2023, Álvaro Colom passed away at the age of 71. He died at his home in Guatemala City. The government declared three days of mourning for him. His funeral was held at the Las Flores cemetery.
Honors
- Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon (Republic of China, 2008)
See also
In Spanish: Álvaro Colom para niños
