Manuel Baldizón
| Manuel Baldizón | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Member of the Congress of Guatemala | |
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In office January 2004 – January 2008 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Manuel Antonio Baldizón Méndez 6 May 1970 Flores, El Petén, Guatemala |
| Nationality | Guatemalan |
| Political party |
LIDER UNE (2006–2008) PAN (2003–2006) |
| Spouse(s) | Rosa Maria Vargas |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala |
| Profession | Lawyer, businessman |
Manuel Antonio Baldizón Méndez (born 6 May 1970) is a Guatemalan politician, lawyer, and hotel entrepreneur. He was the leader of the "Libertad Democrática Renovada" (LIDER) Renewed Democratic Liberty party and was a candidate in the 2015 presidential election placing third and losing to Jimmy Morales. He was also a candidate in the 2011 presidential election, placing second and losing to Otto Pérez Molina in a run-off vote.
Manuel Baldizón originates from Amatitlan. He completed his military service in the infantry as Second Lieutenant of the reserve in 1987. In 2000, he received his licentiate degree in jurisprudence and social science, licence as solicitor and notary from the Universidad Mariano Galvez. Baldizón added postgradual studies at the University of Valparaíso, Chile, which he completed with an MBA with honorable mentions. In 2004, he obtained his doctorate in law from the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala. Afterwards, he took post-doctoral courses at the University of Salamanca, Spain.
He was elected to the Congress for the National Advancement Party (PAN) in 2003, but joined the National Unity of Hope (UNE) of Álvaro Colom in 2006. Baldizón was re-elected as a Congressman in 2007. He defected from the governing UNE in 2009 and founded the LIDER party. In the 2011 general election, Manuel Baldizón was a presidential candidate. His running mate was Raquel Blandón, ex-wife of former president Vinicio Cerezo. In the first round on 11 September he won 1,004,215 votes (22.68%) and qualified for the runoff on 6 November. However he was defeated by the retired general Otto Pérez Molina of the Patriotic Party in this second turn, winning 1,980,819 votes (46.26%).
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