Gustavo Balcázar Monzón facts for kids

Gustavo Balcázar Monzón (born 10 August 1927) is a Colombian lawyer and a politician who is now retired. He was a member of the Colombian Liberal Party. He held important positions in the Colombian government, including serving in both the Senate and the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia. He even led both parts of the Congress.

Mr. Balcázar also worked for two presidents. He was the 48th Governor of Valle del Cauca and the 16th Minister of Agriculture under President Guillermo León Valencia. Later, he served as the 18th Ambassador of Colombia to the United Kingdom and also represented Colombia in Algeria under President Julio César Turbay Ayala.

Gustavo Balcázar Monzón: A Colombian Leader

Early Life and Education

Gustavo Balcázar Monzón was born on 10 August 1927, in Cali, Colombia. His parents were Ricardo Balcázar and Leonor Monzón.

He went to Berchmans School in Cali for his early education. After that, he moved to Bogotá to study Law and Economics. He attended the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and earned his degree in 1950. His final paper was about cities, urban planning, and a special tax called the valorization tax.

Family Life and Relationships

Gustavo Balcázar Monzón first married Bolivia Ramos. They had two daughters together, named María Isabel and Iliana.

Later, after his first marriage ended, he married Nydia Quintero Turbay in 1984. Nydia Quintero Turbay was once the First Lady of Colombia.

Serving the People: His Political Journey

Gustavo Balcázar Monzón had a long and active career in Colombian politics. He held many different roles, helping to shape laws and lead important government departments.

Starting in Congress: Representative

One of his first major roles was serving as a member of the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia. He represented the Valle del Cauca Department. He held this position from 1958 to 1962. The Chamber of Representatives is like one part of a country's parliament, where elected officials make laws.

Leading Valle del Cauca: Governor

From 1962 to 1964, Gustavo Balcázar Monzón served as the 48th Governor of Valle del Cauca. As governor, he was in charge of leading and managing the affairs of the Valle del Cauca region. This role is similar to a state governor in other countries. He worked under President Guillermo León Valencia.

Helping Farmers: Minister of Agriculture

After being governor, he became the 16th Minister of Agriculture for Colombia. He held this important job from 1964 to 1965. In this role, he was responsible for policies and programs related to farming and rural development across the country. He continued to serve under President Guillermo León Valencia.

Representing Colombia Abroad: Ambassador

From 1979 to 1981, Mr. Balcázar took on a new challenge. He became the 18th Ambassador of Colombia to the United Kingdom. An ambassador represents their country in another nation, working to build good relationships and promote their country's interests. He also served as a non-resident ambassador to Algeria during this time. This means he represented Colombia in Algeria without living there full-time. He served in these diplomatic roles under President Julio César Turbay Ayala.

Back in Congress: Senator

Gustavo Balcázar Monzón returned to the Colombian Congress, this time as a Senator. He served multiple terms in the Senate, from 1966 to 1979, and again from 1982 to 1994. The Senate is the other part of a country's parliament, where senators also help make laws and represent their regions. He even became the president of both the Senate and the Chamber of Representatives during his time in Congress.

See also

In Spanish: Gustavo Balcázar para niños