Roxana Baldetti facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Roxana Baldetti
Official portrait, 2012
13th Vice President of Guatemala
In office January 14, 2012 – May 9, 2015
President	Otto Pérez Molina
Preceded by	Rafael Espada
Succeeded by	Alejandro Maldonado
Deputy in the Congress of Guatemala
In office January 14, 2008 – March 14, 2011
Second General Secretary of the Patriotic Party
In office January 20, 2009 – September 14, 2014
Preceded by	Otto Pérez Molina
Succeeded by	Valentín Gramajo
Personal details
Born	Ingrid Roxana Baldetti Elías (1962-05-13) May 13, 1962 (age 63) Guatemala City Guatemala
Political party	Patriotic Party
Spouse	Mariano Paz
Children	Luis Pedro Paz Baldetti Mario Paz Baldetti
Residence	Guatemala City
Alma mater	Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala
Website	(2010 archive)

Ingrid Roxana Baldetti Elías (born May 13, 1962) is a Guatemalan politician. She was the first woman to become the Vice President of Guatemala. She held this job from 2012 until 2015, when she had to resign because of a major scandal.

Later, courts found her guilty of serious crimes. These included using her powerful position dishonestly and being part of a secret group that broke the law. This group was involved in a scheme known as the La Línea corruption case.

Early Life and Education

Roxana Baldetti was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on May 13, 1962. Her parents were Alejandro Baldetti and Gladys Elías de Baldetti. She grew up in a working-class neighborhood with her mother and two brothers.

She went to Colegio Monte Carmelo for elementary school. Later, she graduated from El Sagrado Corazón de Jesús as a primary school teacher. In 1997, she earned a degree in journalism from the University of San Carlos of Guatemala.

Before her career in politics, Baldetti was also the first runner-up in the Miss Guatemala beauty pageant in 1980.

Career in Media and Politics

Starting in Journalism

After working as a substitute teacher, Baldetti began her career in journalism. She worked for the news program Aquí el Mundo and later helped start a new program called TV Noticias. She also worked as a correspondent for the show Primer Impacto on Univisión.

In the 1990s, she started working for the government. President Jorge Serrano Elías appointed her to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She also worked with the United Nations to support women's rights.

Entering the Political World

In 2000, Baldetti co-founded the Patriot Party (PP) with Otto Pérez Molina. She was then elected to the Congress of Guatemala. In Congress, she became a leader for her party.

In 2011, she ran for vice president on the same ticket as Pérez Molina. A big part of their campaign was promising to fight against dishonest practices in government. They won the election, and on January 14, 2012, Baldetti became the first female vice president in Guatemala's history.

Scandal and Resignation

Questions About Her Wealth

In 2013, a Guatemalan newspaper called El Periódico published a story about Baldetti. The article questioned how she had become so wealthy. It pointed out that she had bought expensive homes and a helicopter that seemed to cost much more than her government salary could pay for.

The newspaper also raised questions about her spending and her connections to certain people. Baldetti denied the accusations and said she had earned her money through hard work.

The La Línea Scandal

In 2015, a major investigation uncovered a secret scheme inside the government. It was called La Línea (The Line). The investigation was led by a special group from the United Nations.

The group found that some government officials were taking money from businesses to help them avoid paying import taxes. Baldetti's personal secretary was one of the people accused of being involved.

Because of the scandal, Baldetti resigned as vice president on May 8, 2015. A few months later, on August 21, she was arrested.

Court Cases and Conviction

Investigators found evidence that seemed to connect Baldetti to the scheme. This included recordings of phone calls where people mentioned "the Lady" and "the No. 2," which prosecutors said referred to her.

The scandal also led to the resignation of President Pérez Molina. Many people in Guatemala protested, demanding that their leaders be held accountable.

What Happened in Court?

On October 27, 2017, a judge ordered that Baldetti, Pérez Molina, and 26 other people should face trial. They were accused of being part of the scheme to avoid customs taxes.

In 2018, Baldetti was found guilty in a separate case. The court said she had used her power dishonestly to approve a government contract. She was sentenced to 15 and a half years in prison.

Then, on December 7, 2022, she was sentenced again for her role in the La Línea case. The court gave her another 16 years in prison for being part of a criminal group and for customs fraud.

Personal Life

In 1987, Baldetti married Mariano Paz. He is a farmer and owns a business that sells agricultural products. Together, they have two sons, Luis Pedro and Mario.

See also

In Spanish: Roxana Baldetti para niños