Mario Abdo Benítez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mario Abdo Benítez
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Abdo Benítez in 2023
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| 51st President of Paraguay | |
| In office 15 August 2018 – 15 August 2023 |
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| Vice President | Hugo Velázquez |
| Preceded by | Horacio Cartes |
| Succeeded by | Santiago Peña |
| President of the Senate of Paraguay | |
| In office 1 July 2015 – 30 June 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Blas Llano |
| Succeeded by | Roberto Acevedo Penedo |
| Senator of Paraguay | |
| In office 1 July 2013 – 1 March 2018 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 November 1971 Asunción, Paraguay |
| Political party | Colorado |
| Spouses |
Fátima Díaz
(divorced)Silvana López Moreira
(m. 2007) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Teikyo Post University |
| Military service | |
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| Years of service | 1989–early 1990s |
| Rank | Second lieutenant |
Mario Abdo Benítez (born 10 November 1971) is a Paraguayan politician. He served as the 51st president of Paraguay from 2018 to 2023. Before becoming president, he was a senator and led the Senate of Paraguay from 2015 to 2016.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Mario Abdo Benítez was born in Asunción, Paraguay, on November 10, 1971. His father, Mario Abdo Benítez Sr., had Lebanese family roots.
When he was 16, Mario moved to the United States. He later studied at Teikyo Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut. There, he earned a degree in marketing. After finishing high school in 1989, he joined the Paraguayan Armed Forces. He became a Second Lieutenant in the Reserve Aviation and was also a paratrooper.
Early Political Career
Mario Abdo Benítez started his political journey in 2005. He joined the Republican National Reconstruction movement. Later, he became part of the Peace and Progress movement. In 2005, he was elected Vice President of the Colorado Party. In June 2015, he was chosen to be the president of the Senate of Paraguay.
Some people have questioned his connection to the government of Alfredo Stroessner. Stroessner was a former leader who ruled Paraguay for a long time. Mario's father was Stroessner's private secretary. When Stroessner passed away in 2006, Mario Abdo Benítez was one of the people who carried his coffin at the funeral. He also suggested that his political party should honor Stroessner.
Mario inherited his wealth from his father. After Stroessner's rule ended, Mario's father faced questions about how his family got their money, but the case was later closed. Mario Abdo Benítez has said that he believes Stroessner "did a lot for the country." However, he also made it clear that he does not support the unfair treatment and harm that happened to people during that time.
Presidency
Becoming President
In December 2017, Mario Abdo Benítez won the primary election for his party, the Colorado Party. He defeated Santiago Peña to become the party's candidate for president.
In April 2018, Abdo Benítez won the general election. He beat Efraín Alegre to become the next president. At 46 years old, he became one of Paraguay's youngest presidents since 1954.
He officially became president on August 15, 2018. The previous president, Horacio Cartes, was not at the ceremony.
Domestic Policies
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President Abdo Benítez supported changes to the judicial system, which many people thought had problems with corruption.
In 2019, he faced a difficult situation. He had signed an agreement with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro about the Itaipu Dam. Many people in Paraguay felt this agreement was unfair to their country. This led to talks about possibly removing him from office, a process called impeachment. However, he managed to cancel the agreement, which stopped the impeachment process.
When it came to the economy, his government continued policies that had been in place for a long time. These policies often favored large landowners. In September 2019, his government passed a new tax reform. In the same year, the Paraguayan economy slowed down.
About a year after he took office, many people were not happy with his leadership. A popular phrase, "Desastre ko Marito," which means "Marito is a disaster" in a mix of Guarani and Spanish, became common. Mario Abdo Benítez even joked about the phrase himself sometimes. By June 2022, most people surveyed had a negative view of his presidency.
Foreign Policies
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In September 2018, he changed a decision made by the previous president. That decision had moved Paraguay's embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Mario Abdo Benítez said he was not asked about the original decision. He explained that he changed it to help bring peace to the Middle East. This decision caused some tension with the Israeli government, which then closed its embassy in Paraguay.
In January 2019, he ended diplomatic relations with Venezuela. He recognized Juan Guaidó, an opposition leader, as the leader of Venezuela. He welcomed Guaidó to the presidential palace in Asunción.
Personal Life
Mario Abdo Benítez was first married to Fátima María Díaz. They had two sons together. After their divorce, he married Silvana López Moreira. They have one son.
Honours and Awards
Mario Abdo Benítez has received several important awards from other countries:
- In October 2018, he was given the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon by President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan.
- In January 2023, he received the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic with Grand Cordon from the President of Italy.
Foreign Awards
Taiwan:
Grand Cordon of the Order of Brilliant Jade - 2018
Bolivia:
Grand Collar of the Order of the Condor of the Andes - 2019
Colombia:
Grand Collar of the Order of Boyaca - 2022
Italy:
Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic - 2023
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See also
In Spanish: Mario Abdo Benítez para niños
