Hato Hasbún facts for kids
Franzi Hato Hasbún Barake (born in San Salvador in 1946 – died August 30, 2017) was an important politician from El Salvador. He was known for his work as a sociologist, which is someone who studies how societies work. He also specialized in politics, elections, and how countries cooperate with each other.
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Hato Hasbún earned advanced degrees in Sociology, Philosophy, and Journalism Research. From 2009, he was in charge of the Secretariat of Strategic Affairs for the Presidency. In 2012, he became the Minister of Education. He also advised the Jose Simeon Canas Central American University (UCA) and was a professor there. He even taught the future Salvadoran president, Salvador Sánchez Cerén, when he was a student.
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A Key Figure in Salvadoran Politics
Hato Franzi Hasbún is seen as one of the most important people in the social and political history of El Salvador. He was also a very close advisor to President Mauricio Funes.
When he was young, Hato Hasbún was a talented basketball player at the Salvadoran Grammar school. He later became an optometrist, but he was always interested in learning more. He decided to study at the American University (UCA). He earned his first degree in Sociology from UCA and a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy from the Autonomous University of Mexico.
Later, he became a professor at Externado San Jose. Some people remember how his teaching style, which included new ideas, caused discussions among teachers and parents. This even led some wealthy parents and teachers to leave and start their own school, La Floresta. He continued his studies, earning two Master's degrees in Sociology and Philosophy from universities in Spain.
Working for Peace During Conflict
Hato Hasbún joined the People's Liberation Forces (FPL), which was one of the groups involved in the conflict in El Salvador. His work focused on "diplomatic fronts," meaning he traveled to different countries in Latin America and Europe to build relationships and seek solutions. He had strong connections with Cuba, where he met important figures like Fidel Castro and Raúl Castro.
He was also close to Manuel Pineiro, known as "Barbarossa," a key figure from the Cuban Revolution. Pineiro was important in expanding leftist groups in Latin America. Another Cuban official, Ramiro Abreu, who was Cuba's delegate to Central America, often met with Hasbún during his visits to El Salvador.
During the conflict, Hato Hasbún used his position as Secretary of International Relations at UCA to help the peace efforts. This sometimes caused challenges with the university, but he continued to hold various roles there during and after the conflict. One of his biggest contributions in the late 1980s was helping to create an early plan to end the conflict. This plan was developed in Mexico with help from Jesuit priests and became a basis for the final Peace Accords.
A Career in Communication
Between 1992 and 1996, Hato Hasbún held several roles at the American University. He was the Dean of Students, Director of Projects, and an advisor for International Relations. He also taught Philosophy and Sociology.
During this time, he became good friends with Carlos Mauricio Funes Cartagena, who was a student and later a journalist. Funes started his journalism career in 1986 as a reporter for a state TV program. He later worked for Channel 12, covering political news.
In 1991, Hato Hasbún helped with a project at the UCA audiovisuals center, and he invited Funes to join. Over the years, their partnership grew stronger. From 1993 to 2005, Hato Hasbún worked on the "Interview a Day" program on Channel 12. When Funes relaunched his own interview show, "Interview with Mauricio Funes," from 2005 to 2007, Hasbún became the CEO and Director of Research for the program. He helped shape the show and how it covered important topics, making Funes one of the best journalists.
Between 2005 and 2007, Hasbún was also the Program Director for CS-polls, a company where Funes also worked. Their surveys helped inform Funes's journalistic work.
Entering the Political Arena
In 1997, Hato Hasbún made a public appearance during the campaign of Hector Silva, who won the mayor's office in San Salvador. Silva was known as the first "left-wing" mayor in El Salvador's history, and Hasbún helped with his campaign.
By 2007, Hasbún was working closely with Mauricio Funes for his possible presidential campaign. Funes's candidacy was confirmed later that year. In 2009, the FMLN party, after previous attempts, was determined to win the presidency from the ARENA party, which had ruled for 20 years.
After the election in March, Funes won the presidency. Hato Hasbún became the Secretary of Strategic Affairs, a new position created for him. In this role, he worked to modernize the government, improve accountability, fight corruption, and develop different parts of the country. He also helped solve problems within the government.
President Funes later appointed Hasbún as the honorary Minister of Education. Funes said that Hasbún "directs efforts to modernize the State, the ballot initiative from the outside, mechanisms of accountability, combating corruption and territorial development. It also helped resolve specific conflicts in various areas of the administration."
Hasbún handled difficult issues like government payments (subsidies), modernizing public transportation, and reviewing pensions. He played a very important role in Funes's government and sometimes spoke for the President when big decisions were made. Because of all his influence, Franzi Hasbún Hato is often called one of the most respected "kingmakers" in El Salvador. A "kingmaker" is someone who has a lot of power behind the scenes to help leaders get into important positions. This term was first used for Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, who played a big role in the "War of the Roses" in England (1445-1485).
See also
In Spanish: Hato Hasbún para niños
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