José Manuel Restrepo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
José Manuel Restrepo
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Restrepo in 2026
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| 14th Vice President of Colombia | |
| Assumed office 7 August 2026 |
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| President | Abelardo de la Espriella |
| Preceded by | Francia Márquez |
| Minister of Finance and Public Credit | |
| In office 3 May 2021 – 7 August 2022 |
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| President | Iván Duque |
| Preceded by | Alberto Carrasquilla |
| Succeeded by | José Antonio Ocampo |
| Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism | |
| In office 7 August 2018 – 3 May 2021 |
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| President | Iván Duque |
| Preceded by | María Lorena Gutiérrez |
| Succeeded by | María Ximena Lombana |
| Rector of the Universidad del Rosario | |
| In office 22 September 2014 – 7 August 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Hans-Peter Knudsen |
| Succeeded by | Alejandro Cheyne |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
José Manuel Restrepo Abondano
31 August 1970 Bogotá, D.C., Colombia |
| Political party | Defenders of the Homeland (since 2026) |
| Spouse |
Tatiana Cespedes
(m. 2001) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | José Manuel Restrepo Vélez (great-great grandfather) Francisco de Paula Santander (sixth great-great grandfather) Sixta Pontón de Santander (sixth great-great grandmother) |
| Education | Del Rosario University London School of Economics University of Bath (DBA) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | Defensores de la Patria - Political Movement |
José Manuel Restrepo Abondano (born on August 31, 1970) is a well-known Colombian academic, economist, and politician. He currently serves as the Vice President of Colombia, a role he began on August 7, 2026. Before becoming Vice President, he held important positions in the government of Iván Duque. He was the Minister of Finance and Public Credit and also the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism.
Mr. Restrepo has a strong educational background. He earned degrees from the Del Rosario University in Colombia, a master's degree from the London School of Economics, and a doctorate from the University of Bath in England. He also served as the head, or rector, of his former university, Del Rosario University. For many years, he shared his thoughts and ideas by writing weekly articles for newspapers like El Nuevo Siglo and El Espectador. He is known for his conservative political views. In March 2026, he was chosen to run alongside Abelardo de la Espriella as his vice-presidential candidate in the 2026 Colombian presidential election.
José Manuel Restrepo's Early Life and Education
José Manuel Restrepo Abondano was born in 1970 in Bogotá, Colombia. He grew up in the city and attended the Gimnasio Campestre school, which was an all-boys school known for its traditional values.
He continued his studies at the Del Rosario University in Bogotá, graduating in 1994. Later, he pursued a master's degree in economics from the famous London School of Economics in 1998. He also completed a postgraduate degree in finance from Rosario University in 2004. In 2015, he earned a special doctorate in Higher Education Management from the University of Bath in England.
Restrepo's Professional Journey
Mr. Restrepo began his career by working as an advisor for the Economic Commission of the Congress of the Republic of Colombia. This committee helps make decisions about the country's economy. He then moved into other government roles, becoming the Budget and Financial Planning Director for Fonade. Fonade is a national fund that supports development projects across Colombia.
From 2009 to 2014, Restrepo served as the rector (head) of Colegio de Estudios Superiores de Administración (CESA) in Bogotá. He also led the Business Foundation of the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá. In 2014, he was chosen to be the rector of his own university, Del Rosario University.
For a decade, he regularly wrote articles for the newspaper El Nuevo Siglo. In 2013, he started writing weekly for El Espectador, which is one of Colombia's oldest newspapers. His last article was published shortly before he was appointed as a minister.
Restrepo's Political Career and Public Service
José Manuel Restrepo became interested in politics during his university years. In an interview from May 2018, he shared that he and some fellow students started a group called "Political Civic Movement, New People." This group aimed to get involved in local elections. They ran for office in seven areas of Bogotá, and three students, including Restrepo, were successfully elected. He served on the district council of Chapinero, an area in Bogotá.
On July 14, 2018, then President-elect Iván Duque announced that he had chosen Restrepo to be his Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Colombia. President Duque praised Restrepo, saying he was a very talented Colombian who would make a big difference in the role. Restrepo officially started this job on August 7, 2018.
He later took on an even bigger role, becoming Colombia's Minister of Finance and Public Credit on May 3, 2021. He continued in this position until August 7, 2022. At that time, the Duque government finished its term, and a new president, Gustavo Petro, took office.
In 2025, when President Gustavo Petro proposed a significant increase in the minimum wage, Restrepo expressed concerns. He believed the increase did not follow the usual economic rules and did not consider factors like productivity and inflation. He asked the Council of State to review the decision. In February 2026, the Council of State temporarily stopped the wage increase, agreeing that it lacked clear legal and economic reasons. This shows his dedication to economic principles.
On March 10, 2026, it was announced that José Manuel Restrepo would be the vice-presidential running mate for Abelardo de la Espriella in the 2026 Colombian presidential election. Following their success in the election, he officially became the Vice President of Colombia on August 7, 2026.
