Nicanor Duarte
| Óscar Nicanor Duarte Frutos | |
|---|---|
 |
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| President of Paraguay | |
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In office 15 August 2003 – 14 August 2008 |
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| Vice President | Francisco Oviedo |
| Preceded by | Luis Ángel González Macchi |
| Succeeded by | Fernando Lugo |
| Senator of Paraguay (Colorado Party) | |
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In office 26 August 2003 – 28 August 2008 |
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| Preceded by | Jorge Cespedes |
| Succeeded by | Jorge Cespedes |
| President of the NRA-Colorado Party | |
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In office 2001–2004 |
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| Minister of Education and Culture | |
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In office 1993–1997 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
11 October 1956 Coronel Oviedo, Paraguay |
| Political party | ANR-PC |
| Spouse(s) | María Gloria Penayo Solaeche |
Óscar Nicanor Duarte Frutos (born 11 October 1956) is a Paraguayan politician who served as President of Paraguay from 2003 to 2008. He currently holds the title of Senator for life.
Born in Coronel Oviedo, Caaguazú, Nicanor Duarte grew up during the Stroessner administration and was affiliated with Stroessner's Colorado Party at the age of 14 while attending high school in Coronel Oviedo. Dr. Duarte is married to María Gloria Penayo Solaeche and they have six children.
In 1974 Duarte received a bachelor's degree in Sciences and Letters. In 1984 he obtained a law degree from the Catholic University of Asuncion and in 1989 a doctorate from the National University of Asuncion. Later he joined the ruling Colorado party. The preliminary candidate for the Colorados in December 1992 was the former minister of Integration Juan Carlos Wasmosy Monti who in August 1993 became the president of Paraguay. Wasmosy appointed Duarte as his Minister of Education and Culture. In 1996, a political controversy led Duarte to leave the ruling party. In February 1997 he resigned as a minister and joined the Reconciliacion Colorada Movement (MRC).
In January 2001 he joined the ruling Colorado Party (ANR-PC) again and stood for its presidency for the period 2001–2004. He obtained the presidential nomination from his party on 22 December 2002. He was proclaimed president with 37.1% of the votes, ahead of Julio César Franco with 24%, Pedro Fadul with 21.3% and Guillermo Sánchez with 13.5% of the votes. He took office on August 15 for the presidential term 2003–2008, becoming the eleventh consecutive ANR-PC president.
Nicanor Duarte pursued policies which were somewhat more left-wing than has been the case for the Colorado Party over its 60-year rule of Paraguay. At least in speeches, he had opposed free trade and reached out to regional Latin American countries with left-leaning governments.
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