Ricardo Maduro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ricardo Maduro
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Maduro in Tegucigalpa in August 2003.
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| 34th President of Honduras | |
| In office January 27, 2002 – January 27, 2006 |
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| Vice President |
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| Preceded by | Carlos Roberto Flores |
| Succeeded by | Manuel Zelaya |
| President of the Central Bank of Honduras | |
| In office January 27, 1990 – January 27, 1994 |
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| President | Rafael Leonardo Callejas Romero |
| Preceded by | Gonzalo Carías |
| Succeeded by | Roberto Galvez |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ricardo Rodolfo Maduro Joest
April 20, 1946 Panama |
| Political party | National Party of Honduras |
| Spouse |
Melissa Callejas
(m. 2009)Aguas Santas Ocaña Navarro
(m. 2002; div. 2006) |
| Alma mater | Stanford University (BEc) |
Ricardo Rodolfo Maduro Joest was born on April 20, 1946, in Panama. He is a Honduran economist and politician. He served as the 34th President of Honduras from January 27, 2002, to January 27, 2006.
Maduro is a member of the National Party. Before becoming president, he was the chairman of the Central Bank of Honduras. He studied at The Lawrenceville School and later at Stanford University.
Contents
Early Life and Path to Presidency
Ricardo Maduro is of Jewish background. He had three daughters and a son, Ricardo Ernesto, from his first marriage to Miriam Andréu.
A sad event in his life was the death of his son, Ricardo Ernesto, in 1997. This event deeply affected Maduro. It inspired him to become more involved in politics and run for president.
At the time, the Honduran constitution had a rule. It said that only people born in Honduras could become president. Ricardo Maduro was born in Panama. This rule caused some debate before the 2001 elections. However, he was eventually allowed to run for the presidency.
President of Honduras (2002-2006)
During his election campaign, Maduro promised to fight crime. He especially focused on dealing with the Mara Salvatrucha gang, often called "maras."
After he became president, he quickly sent soldiers into the streets of major cities. These soldiers worked with the local police to help keep people safe. The National Congress, which was controlled by Maduro's party, passed new laws. These laws made it a crime to be part of an illegal group. This led to many gang members being put in jail.
In October 2002, President Maduro married Aguas Santas Ocaña Navarro. She was from Spain and worked at the Spanish Embassy in Honduras. After he finished his term as president, they decided to divorce. Aguas Santas Ocaña Navarro then moved to Nicaragua. There, she worked with a non-profit group that helps children. Ricardo Maduro stayed in Tegucigalpa.
On May 1, 2005, a small plane carrying Maduro crashed into the Caribbean Sea. This happened off the coast of Tela. Luckily, Maduro, his daughter Lorena, and the pilot were not badly hurt. Local people helped rescue them. He was taken to a hospital in Comayagua to recover.
On November 27, 2005, Maduro oversaw the next presidential and general elections. His party lost the election to the Liberal Party of Honduras (PLH). Manuel Zelaya became the new president. Zelaya took office on January 27, 2006, succeeding Ricardo Maduro.
Life After the Presidency
Today, Ricardo Maduro is the President of Inversiones la Paz in Tegucigalpa. He is also very active in an education organization he started. This organization is called the Fundacion para la Educacion Ricardo Ernesto Maduro Andreu, or FEREMA.
FEREMA helps provide education for young children from families with lower incomes. Maduro believes that kindergarten is a very important step. He thinks it helps children succeed in their school life.
Honors
- Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon (Republic of China)
See also
In Spanish: Ricardo Maduro para niños
- History of Honduras
- Politics of Honduras
