Fernando Botero Zea
| Fernando Botero Zea | |
|---|---|
| Minister of National Defence of Colombia | |
|
In office 7 August 1994 – 2 August 1995 |
|
| President | Ernesto Samper Pizano |
| Preceded by | Rafael Pardo Rueda |
| Succeeded by | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
23 August 1956 Mexico City, Mexico, Mexico |
| Nationality | Colombo-Mexican |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Relations | Fernando Botero Angulo (father) |
| Alma mater | University of the Andes (BA, ) |
| Profession | Political Scientist |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Fernando Botero Zea (born 23 August 1956) is a Colombian politician who served in several public positions, including as Defense Minister under President Ernesto Samper, for whom he was campaign manager in his presidential run. Botero was elected as a member of the Colombian Congress for the Colombian Liberal Party. He is a son of the internationally recognized painter and sculptor Fernando Botero. He was convicted of financial issues associated with the campaign's having accepted money from the Cali Cartel, and served nearly three years in prison. Losing an appeal in 2007 on a second charge, Botero is staying in Mexico, where his citizenship prevents him from being extradited.
Born in Mexico City, Fernando Botero Zea is the first son of the renowned artist Fernando Botero and Gloria Zea, who later became the Colombian Minister of Culture. He has a sister Lina and brother Juan Carlos. His mother served as Minister of Culture of Colombia. His parents divorced in 1960 and each remarried.
Botero graduated from the Universidad de Los Andes with a degree in Political Science. In the 1980s, he attended Harvard University's Business School and Kennedy School, where he obtained joint master's degrees in Business and Public Administration.
Botero was elected to Bogota's City Council. Later he was elected as a Liberal Party member of the Colombian Congress.
In 1993–1994, he worked for Ernesto Samper as one of his campaign managers in his run for president. After Samper was elected, he appointed Botero as Minister of Defense. Botero was charged with financial improprieties due to poor handling of a contract to import a large shipment of assault rifles from Israel.
Shortly after the presidential victory, Andrés Pastrana, Samper's opponent and future successor, accused Samper of having received campaign donations from the Cali Cartel, in the amount of $6 million US dollars. The Attorney General, Alfonso Valdivieso Sarmiento, personally led the investigation. Valdivieso is a cousin of the late Luis Carlos Galán, a charismatic presidential candidate assassinated in 1989 by the Medellín Cartel for his political views. Galán favoured the extradition of drug dealers to the United States for prosecution.
...
Wikipedia