Belisario Betancur facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Belisario Betancur
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Betancur in 1985
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| 26th President of Colombia | |
| In office 7 August 1982 – 7 August 1986 |
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| Preceded by | Julio César Turbay Ayala |
| Succeeded by | Virgilio Barco Vargas |
| Ambassador of Colombia to Spain | |
| In office 16 December 1975 – January 1977 |
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| President | Alfonso López Michelsen |
| Preceded by | Álvaro Lloreda Caicedo |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Hoyos Arango |
| Minister of Labour of Colombia | |
| In office 7 August 1962 – 23 April 1963 |
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| President | Guillermo León Valencia |
| Preceded by | Juan Benavides Patron |
| Succeeded by | Castor Jaramillo Arrubla |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Belisario Betancur Cuartas
4 February 1923 Amagá, Antioquia, Colombia |
| Died | 7 December 2018 (aged 95) Bogotá, Colombia |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouses |
Rosa Helena Álvarez Yepes
(m. 1946; Dalita Rafaela Navarro Palmar
(m. 2000–2018) |
| Children | Three; including Diego |
| Alma mater | Pontifical Bolivarian University (JD) |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Belisario Betancur Cuartas (born February 4, 1923 – died December 7, 2018) was an important Colombian politician. He served as the 26th President of Colombia from 1982 to 1986. He was a member of the Colombian Conservative Party. During his time as president, he tried to make peace with different armed groups in Colombia. He was also one of the few presidents who did not get involved in politics after leaving office.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Belisario Betancur was born in 1923 in a town called Amagá, in the Antioquia region of Colombia. His father, Rosendo Betancur, was a worker, and his mother, Ana Otilia Cuartas, was a businesswoman.
He later moved to the city of Medellín. There, he studied at the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana. In 1955, he finished his studies and earned a degree in law and economics. This meant he became a lawyer.
Political Journey
Betancur started his political career in 1945. He was a representative in the local assembly for the Antioquia region until 1947. He then became a representative in the National Chamber for different areas of Colombia. From 1953 to 1957, he was also part of the group that helped write the country's laws.
In 1963, Betancur served as the Minister of Labor. This role meant he was in charge of laws and rules about jobs and workers. Later, from 1975 to 1977, he was the Ambassador for Colombia in Spain. An ambassador represents their country in another country.
Betancur tried to become president several times. In 1970, he ran as an independent candidate but came in third place. He ran again in 1978 as the official candidate for his party. However, he lost that election to Julio César Turbay Ayala.
Becoming President
Finally, in 1982, Belisario Betancur was elected President of Colombia. He served for four years, until 1986. As president, he worked on many important projects for his country.
Key Actions as President
- He helped create the Contadora Group. This group worked to bring peace to countries in Central America.
- He tried to make the government more democratic. He invited armed groups to join regular civilian life.
- He supported projects for affordable housing and made universities more accessible.
- He started a campaign to help more people learn to read and write.
- He also supported a tax amnesty, which allowed people to pay old taxes without penalties.
During his presidency, new laws were passed. These included laws for electing mayors and making changes to local governments. There were also changes to the justice system and how Congress worked. His government also started exploring and exporting coal from the Cerrejón North region. They also launched the first regional TV channels, Teleantioquia and Telecaribe.
| Colombia's four failed peace talks | ||
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| Year | President | Ended because |
| 1982–1985 | Belisario Betancur | Most Supreme Court Justices were killed when M-19 commandos and the Army fought for control of the building |
| 1986–1990 | Virgilio Barco Vargas | FARC ambush killed 26 soldiers in Caquetá |
| 1990–1992 | César Gaviria Trujillo | FARC attack on the Senate President. FARC kidnapping and killing of an ex-cabinet member. |
| 1998–2002 | Andrés Pastrana Arango | FARC kidnapping of Senator |
Betancur was very focused on bringing peace to Colombia. He started talks with several armed groups. However, a difficult event happened in 1985. This was the Palace of Justice siege, where armed groups took over a courthouse. This event caused a lot of trouble and sadness in the country.
He was also president when the Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupted in 1985. This natural disaster caused a lot of damage and sadly, over 20,000 people lost their lives.
After Being President
After his term ended in 1986, Betancur decided to retire from politics. He did not seek other political jobs.
He became an important member of several international groups. He was an Honorary Member of the Club of Rome for Latin America. He also led the Truth Commission for El Salvador, which investigated past events in that country. He was also a founding member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.
Personal Life
In 1946, Belisario Betancur married Rosa Helena Álvarez Yepes. They had three children together, including a diplomat named Diego Betancur Álvarez. Rosa Helena passed away in 1998. In 2000, Betancur married Dalia Rafaela Navarro Palmar.
His Passing
On December 6, 2018, Betancur was admitted to a hospital in Bogotá. He was very ill with a kidney infection. Sadly, he passed away the next day, on December 7, 2018, at the age of 95.
Before he died, Betancur said he did not want a big state funeral. He wanted to be buried in a cemetery in Bogotá called Jardines del Recuerdo. His funeral was held on December 8, with the current president and former presidents attending. He was buried that same day after a ceremony.
Honours and Awards
Belisario Betancur received special honorary degrees from the University of Colorado and Georgetown University. These are like special awards for his achievements. In 1983, he also received the Prince of Asturias Peace Award from Spain. This award recognizes people who work for peace.
See also
In Spanish: Belisario Betancur para niños
