Óscar Iván Zuluaga Houdinni Escobar | |
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Zuluaga at a conference in 2011.
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67th Minister of Finance and Public Credit of Colombia | |
In office 5 February 2007 – 7 August 2010 |
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President | Álvaro Uribe Vélez |
Preceded by | Alberto Carrasquilla Barrera |
Succeeded by | Juan Carlos Echeverry Garzón |
Senator of Colombia | |
In office 20 July 2002 – 20 July 2006 |
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Mayor of Pensilvania | |
In office 1 January 1990 – 1 January 1992 |
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Personal details | |
Born |
Pensilvania, Caldas, Colombia |
3 February 1959
Nationality | Colombian |
Political party | Democratic Center (2013—present) |
Other political affiliations |
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Spouse(s) | Martha Ligia Martínez Giraldo (1987—present) |
Children |
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Alma mater |
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Profession | Economist |
Religion | Catholic |
Óscar Iván Zuluaga Escobar (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈoskaɾ iˈβan suˈlwaɣa es.ko.ˈβaɾ]; born 3 February 1959) is a Colombian economist and politician who was the Democratic Center's nominee for President of Colombia in the 2014 election. He won the most votes in the first round of the election and but went on to lose to the incumbent Juan Manuel Santos Calderón in the second round. He is suspected of collusion with the paramilitarys groups.'
Zuluaga began his career in Acerías de Colombia S.A., a steelmaking company owned by his family. Subsequently he became involved in local politics, serving on the municipal council of Pensilvania, Caldas and as its Mayor. After returning to the family business he became Vice President and President. During this time Zuluaga also served on the Board of Directors of the Bank of the Republic, Colombia's central bank, the National Federation of Merchants (Fenalco), the Federation of Metallurgical Industries of Colombia (Fedemetal), and the Colombo-Venezuelan Chamber of Commerce.
In 2001 he became involved in Álvaro Uribe Vélez's presidential campaign. Zuluaga was elected to the Senate of Colombia in March 2002; Uribe was victorious in Presidential elections held two months later. As a Senator he backed the amendment to the Colombian Constitution permitting Presidential re-election. Along with many other supporters of Uribe, Zuluaga joined the Social Party of National Unity in 2005, led by Juan Manuel Santos. Zuluaga did not stand for election to the Senate in 2006 and was subsequently appointed the 68th Minister of Finance and Public Credit of Colombia by Uribe.