Fernando Lugo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fernando Lugo
Lugo in 2009
48th President of Paraguay
In office 15 August 2008 – 22 June 2012
Vice President	Federico Franco
Preceded by	Nicanor Duarte
Succeeded by	Federico Franco
President pro tempore of the Union of South American Nations
In office 29 October 2011 – 22 June 2012
Preceded by	Bharrat Jagdeo
Succeeded by	Ollanta Humala
President of the Senate of Paraguay
In office 30 June 2017 – 30 June 2018
Preceded by	Robert Acevedo
Succeeded by	Silvio Ovelar
Senator of Paraguay
In office 30 June 2013 – 30 June 2023
Personal details
Born	Fernando Armindo Lugo Méndez (1951-05-30) 30 May 1951 (age 74) San Solano, Paraguay
Political party	Frente Guasú (since 2010)
Other political affiliations	Christian Democratic Party (2007–2010) Patriotic Alliance for Change (2007–2010)
Alma mater	Catholic University of Our Lady of Asuncion Pontifical Gregorian University
Signature
Bishop of San Pedro Church Roman Catholic Church Diocese Diocese of San Pedro In Office 5 March 1994 – 11 January 2005 Predecessor Oscar Páez Garcete Successor Adalberto Martínez Flores Orders Ordination 15 August 1977 Consecration 17 April 1994 by Jose Sebastian Laboa

Fernando Armindo Lugo Méndez (born 30 May 1951) is a Paraguayan politician. He served as the President of Paraguay from 2008 to 2012. Before becoming president, he was a Roman Catholic priest and bishop. He was the Bishop of the Diocese of San Pedro from 1994 to 2005. His election in 2008 ended 61 years of rule by the Colorado Party.

In 2012, he was removed from office through a process called impeachment. Some neighboring countries called this a coup d'état. Lugo was later elected to the Senate of Paraguay in 2013 and 2018.

Early Life and Education

Fernando Lugo grew up in Paraguay. He went to a religious school in Encarnación. As a child, he helped his family by selling snacks on the streets.

His family was involved in politics. His father was imprisoned many times. Some of his older brothers and sisters were sent away from the country.

Path to Priesthood

Lugo's father wanted him to become a lawyer. But at 18, Lugo chose a different path. He went to a teaching school and started teaching in a small village. This village was very religious but had no priest. Lugo felt inspired by this experience. He decided he wanted to become a priest.

At 19, he joined a seminary. He became a priest on 15 August 1977. He then worked as a missionary in Ecuador for five years. There, he learned about liberation theology, which focuses on helping the poor and oppressed.

Lugo returned to Paraguay in 1982. He then went to Rome for more studies. In 1987, he came back to Paraguay. He became a bishop on 17 April 1994. He was put in charge of the poorest diocese in the country, the San Pedro diocese.

In 2005, Lugo resigned as bishop. He wanted to run for political office. The Church initially did not allow him to leave the priesthood. However, after he won the presidential election, the Church allowed him to step down from his religious duties on 30 June 2008.

Political Career

Lugo became well-known for supporting farmers. He helped them ask for fairer land distribution. In 2006, polls showed he was a strong candidate for president. People called him "the bishop of the poor." He became the biggest challenge to the Colorado Party.

Lugo focused on social inequality in Paraguay. He wanted to help people who were struggling. In February 2007, he received threats because of his political work. The Paraguayan Interior Ministry offered him protection.

Running for President

In February 2007, polls showed Lugo as the favorite for the 2008 presidential election. He had over 37% of voter support. On 29 October 2007, he joined the Christian Democratic Party of Paraguay (CDP). This allowed him to become a candidate.

The CDP formed a group called the Patriotic Alliance for Change. This group included many opposition parties and social movements. They all supported Lugo for president. Federico Franco became his running mate for Vice President.

Some people questioned if Lugo could legally run for president. The constitution says religious leaders cannot hold elected office. Also, the Pope had not accepted his resignation from the priesthood yet. However, the Colorado Party decided not to object to his candidacy. Later, in July 2008, the Pope officially allowed Lugo to step down from his religious duties. This made the question of his eligibility clear.

Becoming President

Lugo with U.S. president George W. Bush in 2008.

On 20 April 2008, Lugo won the election. He received 42.3% of the votes. The Colorado Party candidate, Blanca Ovelar, accepted that Lugo had won. President Nicanor Duarte Frutos also admitted that his party had lost. This was the first time in 61 years that the Colorado Party lost an election.

Lugo's victory was historic. It was the first time in Paraguay's history that a ruling party peacefully gave up power to an elected opposition leader. He became Paraguay's second president from the left side of politics. He was also the first to be freely elected.

Lugo with Bolivia's Evo Morales and Argentina's Cristina Fernández in 2009.

Lugo became president on 15 August 2008. He said he would not take his presidential salary. He believed it should go to "more humble people." He also encouraged other politicians to refuse their salaries.

He first chose Alejandro Hamed as his foreign minister. Lugo had thought about changing diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China. But after his inauguration, he said he would not change recognition.

On 18 August 2008, Lugo appointed Margarita Mbywangi. She is from the Aché indigenous group. She became the secretary of indigenous affairs. This was the first time an indigenous person held such a high position in Paraguay.

Lugo promised to fight corruption and improve land distribution. He introduced programs to help poor Paraguayans. These included investments in housing and free treatment in public hospitals. He also started giving money to the poorest citizens.

Presidential Cabinet

During his presidency, Fernando Lugo appointed a cabinet. This group of ministers helped him run the country. Some of the key roles included:

• Minister of Foreign Relations: Alejandro Hamed Franco, Hector Lacognata and Jorge Lara Castro
• Minister of Finance: Dionisio Cornelio Borda
• Minister of Internal Affairs: Rafael Filizzola
• Minister of National Defence: Luis Bareiro Spaini, Cecilio Pérez Bordón and Catalino Luis Roy
• Minister of Agriculture and Livestock: Cándido Vera Bejarano and Enzo Cardozo
• Minister of Industry and Commerce: Martín Heisecke
• Minister of Justice and Labor: Blas Llano and Humberto Blasco
• Minister of Public Works and Communications: Efraín Alegre and Cecilio Pérez Bordón
• Minister of Public Health and Social Welfare: Esperanza Martínez
• Minister of Education and Culture: Horacio Galeano Perrone, Luis Riart and Víctor Ríos
• Minister of Women: Gloria Godoy de Rubin
• General Secretary of the Presidency: Miguel Ángel López Perito
• Secretary of Public Function: Lilian Soto and José Tomás Sánchez
• Secretary of Technical Planification: Carlos Sánchez y Bernardo Esquivel Vasken
• Secretary of the Environment: José Luis Casaccia
• Secretary of Social Action: Paulino Cáceres
• Secretary of Culture: Ticio Escobar
• Secretary of National Emergency: Camilo Soares and Gladys Mercedes Cardozo Zacarías
• Secretary of Childhood and Adolescence: Liz Torres
• Anti-drugs National Secretary: César Damián Aquino
• Director of the National Indigenous Institute: Margarita Mbywangi

Impeachment Process

On 15 June 2012, a serious event happened. Seventeen people died in a clash between farmers and police. The Chamber of Deputies decided to impeach Lugo on 21 June 2012. They voted 76 to 1 to remove him from office. They mentioned this event, along with issues like insecurity and favoritism.

The Senate then took up the case the next day. Ministers from other South American nations were present. The Senate voted 39 to 4 to remove Lugo. This ended his time as president. Federico Franco became the new president of Paraguay.

Lugo said he would challenge the decision in court. He felt he did not have enough time to prepare his defense. His supporters held demonstrations after his removal.

Leaders of Paraguay's neighboring countries did not agree with Lugo's removal. They compared it to a coup d'état. The presidents of Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic said they would not recognize Franco as president. Other countries like Colombia and Chile also expressed concern. Lugo's removal was similar to what happened in Honduras in 2009. In both cases, supporters called it legal, while others called it a coup.

Lugo accepted his removal from office. He said that any legal chance to get his position back ended when the Supreme Court confirmed his removal. He still called it "a congressional coup."

Many polls show that Lugo is considered one of the best presidents in Paraguay's recent history.

Becoming a Senator

In the 2013 election, Lugo ran for a seat in the Senate. He was elected as a member of the Paraguayan Senate. He represented the left-wing group called Frente Guasú.

Honors and Awards

In March 2011, Lugo received the Order of Brilliant Jade. This award was given to him by Ma Ying-jeou, the President of Taiwan.

Personal Life

Fernando Lugo was not married during his presidency. So, he chose his elder sister, Mercedes Lugo, to serve as the First Lady of Paraguay.

In August 2010, Lugo was diagnosed with a type of cancer called non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He continued his duties as president while receiving treatment. He also studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

See also

In Spanish: Fernando Lugo para niños