Francisco Sagasti facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Francisco Sagasti
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Sagasti in 2020
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| 62nd President of Peru | |
| In office 17 November 2020 – 28 July 2021 |
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| Prime Minister | Violeta Bermúdez |
| Vice President | First Vice President Vacant Second Vice President Vacant |
| Preceded by | Manuel Merino |
| Succeeded by | Pedro Castillo |
| President of Congress | |
| In office 16 November 2020 – 17 November 2020 |
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| Vice President | 1st Vice President Mirtha Vásquez 2nd Vice President Luis Roel 3rd Vice President Matilde Fernández |
| Preceded by | Manuel Merino Rocío Silva-Santisteban (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Mirtha Vásquez (acting) |
| Parliamentary Spokesperson of the Purple Party |
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| In office 16 March 2020 – 16 November 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Olivares |
| Member of Congress | |
| In office 16 March 2020 – 17 November 2020 |
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| Constituency | Lima |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 October 1944 Lima, Peru |
| Political party | Purple Party (2016–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
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| Spouse |
Silvia Cristina de las Mercedes Charpentier Brenes
(m. 1993; div. 2005) |
| Children |
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| Parents |
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| Alma mater |
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| Signature |  |
Francisco Rafael Sagasti Hochhausler (born 10 October 1944) is a Peruvian engineer, professor, and politician. He served as the President of Peru from November 2020 to July 2021.
Before becoming president, Sagasti worked as an advisor for economic development at important organizations like the World Bank and the United Nations. In 2016, he helped start the centrist Purple Party in Peru. He was elected to the Peruvian Congress in January 2020, representing Lima.
In November 2020, after a time of political unrest, the previous president, Martín Vizcarra, was removed from office by Congress. This led to large protests across Peru. The President of Congress, Manuel Merino, then became president, but he resigned after less than a week due to the protests. On November 16, Sagasti was chosen by Congress to become the new President of Congress. Because the positions of President and Vice President were empty, Sagasti became the acting President of Peru on November 17, 2020, following the country's rules for who takes over.
Sagasti's time as president was called a "transitional and emergency government." His main goals were to manage the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru, fight corruption, keep the economy stable, and improve education in rural areas. He finished the presidential term on July 28, 2021. This term had seen four different presidents since it began in 2016.
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Early Life and Education
Francisco Sagasti was born in Lima, Peru. His parents were Francisco Sagasti Miller and Elsa Hochhausler Reinisch. His grandfather, Francisco Sagasti Saldaña, was a national hero in Peru. His mother's family came from Austria and settled in Santiago, Chile.
Sagasti studied at the National University of Engineering in Peru, where he earned a degree in industrial engineering. He then went to Pennsylvania State University in the United States for his Master's degree. Later, he completed his Doctor of Philosophy degree at the University of Pennsylvania.
Career Highlights
Advisory Roles
Helping Peru's Government
Over many years, Sagasti served as an advisor in different roles. From 1972 to 1977, he was a Vice President at the Institute of Technological, Industrial Research and Technical Standards of Peru. He also advised the Minister of Industry, helping with industrial and technology matters.
International Work
From 1978 to 1980, he advised the Vice President of the International Development Research Centre. In 1980, Sagasti and two friends started a group called Grupo de Análisis para el Desarrollo (GRADE). He also visited and lectured at famous universities like Stanford University and Columbia University.
From 1985 to 1987, he advised the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Allan Wagner Tizón. He also became a member of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development in 1984, leading the commission from 1989 to 1990.
From 1987 to 1990, Sagasti was the Chief of the Strategic Planning Division at the World Bank. He continued as a Senior Advisor there until 1992.
Returning to Peru
In 1992, Sagasti left the World Bank and returned to Peru during a time of political trouble. He created a group called Agenda Peru to help strengthen democracy and prevent political violence. During this period, he also spoke out against the government of Alberto Fujimori, which many felt was too strict.
In 1996, during a crisis at the Japanese embassy, Sagasti was held hostage for a few days. He was released and returned to Costa Rica, where his family lived.
From 2007 to 2009, and again from 2011 to 2013, he was President of the Science and Technology Program (FINCyT) in Peru. From 2009 to 2014, he was a main researcher for FORO Nacional/Internacional, a group that encouraged discussions about important national and international issues.
In the 2010s, Sagasti was part of the World Economic Forum's Global Strategic Foresight Community.
Political Journey
Francisco Sagasti helped create the Purple Party in October 2016 and became one of its main thinkers. He was elected to the Congress of the Republic of Peru in the 2020 special election, starting his term on March 16, 2020.
During the process to remove President Martín Vizcarra from office, Sagasti did not support it. He believed that justice should take its course. President Vizcarra was removed by Congress on November 9, 2020. Many Peruvians and experts saw this as an unfair removal, leading to large protests. The next day, Manuel Merino, the President of Congress, became the new president of Peru. Protests grew stronger, and after two protesters died on November 14, Merino resigned from the presidency.
Presidency (2020–2021)
On November 16, 2020, Sagasti was chosen by Congress to be the new President of Congress. Since the positions of President and Vice President were empty, he became President of Peru. When he took office, he set four main goals for his temporary time as president:
- Managing the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru.
- Fighting corruption in the country.
- Creating a stable economy.
- Promoting education, especially in rural areas.
Countries like Chile, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States supported Sagasti's presidency.
Sagasti faced challenges, including difficult relations with Congress. He tried to change the leadership of the National Police due to their use of force during protests. He removed the Commander General and many other police generals resigned or were dismissed.
His government focused on controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. They worked to buy 48 million vaccines from different companies. His government also made sure the 2021 General Elections happened on time. There were some social conflicts, like farmer strikes in different regions, but these were resolved after a law that gave fewer benefits to agricultural workers was changed.
Beliefs and Views
Sagasti describes his political views as centrist. He believes in making changes without destroying everything. He has supported removing special protections for members of Congress, saying that these protections are sometimes used to avoid legal action. Sagasti also pushed for stricter rules for universities in Peru, stating that "Higher education is not like buying gum," meaning it should be taken seriously.
Personal Life
Sagasti married Costa Rican economist Silvia Charpentier Brenes in 1993. Silvia was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica and later became a director at the Central Bank of Costa Rica. They had one daughter and divorced in 2005. Sagasti gained Costa Rican citizenship in 2008 through his marriage.
Awards and Recognition
- 1980: United Nations Medal of Peace and Paul Hoffman Prize, for his important contributions to development.
- 1999: Resistance Prize from Caretas magazine, for helping democratic governance in Peru.
- 2012: Medal of the Governor General of Canada, for strengthening relations between Peru and Canada.
- 2013: Doctor Honoris Causa from Continental University in Peru.
- 2017: Robert K. Merton Award from the International Network of Analytical Sociology.
Television Work
- In 1990, he appeared in a TV series called Local Heroes and Global Change.
- In 1985, he hosted a six-part TV series on Pathways to Development in Canada.
- Between 2005 and 2007, Francisco Sagasti helped create and host a TV series called Abriendo Caminos, which explored economic, social, and political changes in Peru.
Music
- He released a CD titled Mónica interpreta a Sagasti in 2016, featuring songs with his lyrics and music.
Images for kids
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Francisco Sagasti's signature
See also
In Spanish: Francisco Sagasti para niños
