Juan Orlando Hernández facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juan Orlando Hernández
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Hernández in 2018
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| 38th President of Honduras | |
| In office 27 January 2014 – 27 January 2022 |
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| Vice President |
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| Preceded by | Porfirio Lobo Sosa |
| Succeeded by | Xiomara Castro |
| President of the National Congress | |
| In office 25 January 2010 – 25 January 2014 |
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| Vice President | Lena Gutiérrez |
| Preceded by | José Alfredo Saavedra (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Mauricio Oliva |
| Deputy of the Lempira Department | |
| In office 25 January 1998 – 25 January 2014 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Juan Orlando Hernández Alvarado
28 October 1968 Gracias, Lempira, Honduras |
| Political party | National Party |
| Spouse |
Ana García Carías
(m. 1990) |
| Children | 4 |
| Relatives |
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| Alma mater | National Autonomous University of Honduras (BL) |
Juan Orlando Hernández Alvarado (born 28 October 1968), often called JOH, is a Honduran lawyer and politician. He served as the president of Honduras for two terms, from 2014 to 2022.
Before becoming president, Hernández was a member of the National Party of Honduras. He was also the president of the National Congress of Honduras from 2010 to 2013. In 2013, he left his duties in Congress to focus on his campaign to become president. He later sought re-election in 2017, which was allowed by the Supreme Court. After winning his party's primary election, he became the National Party's candidate for the 2017 general election. He was declared the winner by a small difference. Some groups, like the Organization of American States (OAS), questioned the election results. However, the United States accepted him as the official winner. After his presidency ended, he became a member of the Central American Parliament. In 2022, his visa to the U.S. was canceled. He was later sent to the United States for legal reasons.
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Early Life and Education
Juan Orlando Hernández was born in Gracias, Honduras. He was one of seventeen children born to Juan Hernández Villanueva and Elvira Alvarado Castillo. His siblings include Hilda Hernández and Tony Hernández.
He studied law at the National Autonomous University of Honduras. He also earned a master's degree in public administration from the State University of New York at Albany. In 1990, he married Ana García Carías. They have three children: Juan Orlando, Ana Daniela, and Isabela. Before his political career, he worked as a coffee farmer in his hometown.
Political Career Beginnings
Hernández began his political journey representing the Lempira Department in the National Congress in 2001. On January 21, 2010, he was chosen to be the President of the National Congress. His party, the National Party, had a strong majority in Congress at that time. He officially took office four days later.
Presidential Campaigns
In 2012, Juan Orlando Hernández ran to become his party's candidate for president. He won the internal election against Ricardo Álvarez. Álvarez claimed the results were unfair, but the election officials did not agree to a recount.
In May 2013, polls showed him in third place for the upcoming election. He started his presidential campaign in July 2013. His campaign was called El Pueblo Propone, which means The People Propose. He promised to use the military to help police the streets. He won the election, getting about 250,000 more votes than his closest opponent, Xiomara Castro.
Later, his party found that some money from companies linked to a public health scandal had been used in his campaign.
In 2015, the Supreme Court allowed presidents to run for re-election. This meant Hernández could seek another term. In March 2017, he won his party's primary election again, becoming their candidate for the 2017 presidential election. The Honduran Constitution usually prevents presidents from running again. However, his party said the Supreme Court's decision allowed it. Other parties disagreed, saying the court did not have that power.
He was re-elected in the 2017 election. Some opposition groups and international observers believed the election was unfair. After the election, the government declared a state of emergency. There were protests where some people were hurt or arrested.
Presidency (2014–2022)
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Public Protests
During his time as president, many people in Honduras and abroad protested against corruption. They believed that public money was being misused by the government and other public groups. They demanded an end to these problems.
In June 2018, President Hernández sent the army and military police into the streets of the capital due to new protests. Reports said that several people were injured during these events, and some sadly passed away.
In April 2019, more protests started. These were against plans to privatize public services and against corruption. Students and healthcare workers led these demonstrations. Police used Tear gas to control the protesters in Tegucigalpa.
Social Policies
During Hernández's presidency, conservative religious groups gained more influence in government decisions. For example, schools and some public services like the police and army began having compulsory prayers each morning. In 2021, a law was added to the Constitution that made same-sex marriage completely forbidden. This made it very difficult to change the law later.
International Relations
Hernández worked to have good relationships with the United States. He was seen as an important friend to the U.S. in Central America.
In 2019, during a political situation in Venezuela, Hernández supported Juan Guaidó as the leader of Venezuela. He also joined other countries in the Lima Group in their statements against the Maduro government. He also followed the views of the Organization of American States (OAS) regarding the situation in Venezuela.
In 2021, Hernández visited Israel. He met with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and opened Honduras's embassy in Jerusalem. This made Honduras one of the few countries to officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
Just before leaving office in October 2021, Hernández met with Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega. This meeting was surprising because the two leaders had different views in previous years. They signed agreements about border disputes in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Fonseca.
Honors
- Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon (Republic of China)
Images for kids
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Hernández in 2018
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Juan Orlando Hernández (center) with his wife Ana García de Hernández and Eduardo Martinetti in Lima (2015)
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Hernández in 2018
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Hernández with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence in Washington, D.C., 23 March 2017
See also
In Spanish: Juan Orlando Hernández para niños
