Porfirio Lobo Sosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Porfirio Lobo Sosa
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Lobo Sosa in January 2010.
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| 37th President of Honduras | |
| In office January 27, 2010 – January 27, 2014 |
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| Vice President |
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| Preceded by | Roberto Micheletti |
| Succeeded by | Juan Orlando Hernández |
| President of the National Congress | |
| In office January 25, 2002 – January 25, 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Rafael Pineda Ponce |
| Succeeded by | Roberto Micheletti |
| Deputy of the Olancho Department | |
| In office January 25, 1990 – January 25, 2006 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | January 22, 1947 Trujillo, Honduras |
| Political party | National Party |
| Spouse | Rosa Elena Bonilla |
| Alma mater |
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Porfirio Lobo Sosa (born January 22, 1947), also known as Pepe Lobo, is a former politician and businessman from Honduras. He served as the 37th President of Honduras from January 27, 2010, to January 27, 2014. He is a member of the conservative National Party. Before becoming president, he was a deputy in the National Congress of Honduras starting in 1990. He also served as the president of the National Congress of Honduras from 2002 to 2006.
In the 2005 general election, he came in second place. After a difficult political period in 2009, Lobo was elected president in the 2009 presidential election. He officially took office in early 2010.
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Early Life and Education
Lobo was born in Trujillo, Honduras. He grew up on a ranch called La Empalizada, near Juticalpa in the Olancho region. His parents were Porfirio José Lobo López and Rosa Sosa Hernández de Lobo. His father was also a political leader and served as a deputy in the National Congress in 1957. Lobo's brother, Ramón Rosa Lobo Sosa, is also a deputy in the National Congress.
After attending a Catholic school in Juticalpa, Lobo continued his studies. He went to the San Francisco Institute in Tegucigalpa. Later, he studied at the University of Miami in the United States. He earned a degree in Business Administration from the University of Miami School of Business.
After his studies, Lobo returned to Honduras. He worked in his family's agricultural business. He also taught political economy and English at the La Fraternidad Institute in Juticalpa for 11 years. He later earned a doctorate from Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow. Lobo also holds a black belt in taekwondo.
Political Journey
Lobo's political career began when he was 19 years old. He became a political leader in Olancho. For 31 years, he led the youth section of the National Party in Olancho. He also headed local and departmental committees.
From 1990 to 1994, he was in charge of the Honduran corporation for forestry development. He was first elected to the National Congress in 1990. He later became the president of the National Congress, serving from 2002 to 2006.
Presidential Elections
Lobo ran for president in the 2005 presidential election as the candidate for the National Party of Honduras. His campaign focused on creating jobs, being tough on crime, and bringing back the death penalty. He finished second in the election, with 46.17% of the votes. His opponent, Manuel Zelaya, won with 49.90%.
In December 2008, he became the presidential candidate for the National Party again. On November 29, 2009, he was elected President of Honduras. He won with 56% of the votes, while his opponent, Elvin Santos, received 38%.
After his victory, Lobo stated that his government would start a "great national dialogue." He also promised to encourage private businesses to create jobs. He aimed to increase social benefits in Honduras, where many citizens live in poverty.
President of Honduras (2010-2014)
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During his time as president, Porfirio Lobo Sosa made some changes to government policies. He focused on a more liberal economic approach. This included changes to laws about land for farmers and rules for temporary workers. He also reformed the status of teachers and allowed some private involvement in education.
His presidency faced challenges related to human rights concerns. There were reports of violence and issues affecting the independence of the justice system. However, the Obama administration praised Lobo for his efforts to bring people together. These efforts included creating a truth commission to investigate past events. He also appointed a human rights adviser and included political opponents in his government.
His presidency also saw conflicts over land. There were disputes between farmers without land and large landowners.
One interesting project during his term involved the idea of building "private cities." These cities would have their own rules, mostly set by investors, rather than by the Honduran government. The constitution was changed in 2011 to allow this. However, the project was later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Justice.
In 2012, Porfirio Lobo's popularity was low, around 14%. This made him one of the least popular leaders in Latin America at that time. Honduras continued to face high rates of violence during his presidency. The country also struggled with poverty and inequality.
Allegations of Misconduct
In July 2016, there were calls for an investigation into Porfirio Lobo's wife, Rosa Elena de Lobo. She was accused of misusing public money meant for school supplies. She also faced charges of falsifying documents. In February 2018, she was put in prison for moving money from the government to her personal account. This was a significant event in Honduras, as it was the first time a high-ranking public figure was jailed for corruption. Some properties belonging to the presidential couple were also considered for seizure by the authorities.
In 2021, Porfirio Lobo's name appeared in the Pandora Papers. These papers showed that he, his wife, and their son owned companies registered in places known as tax havens. Some of these companies were created while he was president of Honduras.
See also
In Spanish: Porfirio Lobo para niños
- Honduran Social Security Institute
