- Óscar Berger
-
Óscar Berger 
President of Guatemala In office
14 January 2004 – 14 January 2008Preceded by Alfonso Portillo Succeeded by Álvaro Colom Personal details Born 11 August 1946
Guatemala CityPolitical party National Solidarity Party (Guatemala)
GANASpouse(s) Wendy Widmann Óscar José Rafael Berger Perdomo, born on 11 August 1946 in Guatemala City, is a former President of Guatemala.
Contents
Early years
Of Belgian descent, Berger was born to an upper class family with large sugar and coffee holdings.[1] He graduated in law from the private, Jesuit Rafael Landívar University.[2]
Marriage and career
In 1967 he married Wendy Widmann, also from a land owning Guatemalan family. From the mid seventies he ran a successful skittles parlor. In 1985 he joined Álvaro Arzú's successful campaign to become mayor of Guatemala City. From January 1991 to June 1999, he was mayor himself.
Political career
In the general election held on 9 November 2003, Berger was candidate for the conservative Grand National Alliance after being persuaded out of a retirement spent farming to return to politics. He obtained 34 percent of the votes, putting him well ahead of Álvaro Colom of the National Union of Hope (26 percent) and former president Efraín Ríos Montt of the Guatemalan Republican Front (19 percent).[3][4]
A run-off vote between Berger and Colom took place on 28 December 2003, which Berger won with a 54 percent share of the vote. He was sworn in on 14 January 2004 and left office 14 January 2008.
See also
References
- ^ Óscar Berger Perdomo, Centro De Estudios Internacionales De Barcelona. (accessed January 20, 2010)
- ^ Óscar Berger Perdomo, Centro De Estudios Internacionales De Barcelona. (accessed January 20, 2010)
- ^ > Guatemala general beaten in poll, BBC coverage. (accessed January 20, 2010)
- ^ Orlandi, Lorraine. Businessman says beats ex-dictator in Guatemala vote, Alertnet.com (accessed January 20, 2010)
Political offices Preceded by
Alfonso PortilloPresident of Guatemala
2004 – 2008Succeeded by
Álvaro ColomHeads of state of Guatemala Federal Republic of Central America (1823–1839);
Supreme Chiefs of State
Republic of Guatemala (since 1839);
PresidentsRivera • López Requena* • Rivera • Carrera • Martínez* • Escobar* • Paredes* • Carrera • Aycinena* • Cerna • García Granados • Barrios • Sinibaldi* • Barillas • Reina • M. Estrada† • Herrera • Orellana • Chacón • Reina* • Ubico† • Ponce Vaides* † • Junta (Arana†, Árbenz†, Toriello) • Arévalo • Árbenz • Díaz* • Monzón† • Castillo† • González López* • Mendoza† • Flores* • Ydígoras† • Peralta† • Méndez • Arana† • Laugerud† • Lucas† • Ríos Montt† • Mejía Victores† • Cerezo • Serrano Elías • Espina* • de León • Arzú • Portillo • Berger • Colom • Pérez Molina (Elect)
*interim †militaryCategories:- Presidents of Guatemala
- Guatemalan people of Belgian descent
- 1946 births
- Living people
- People from Guatemala City
- Grand National Alliance (Guatemala) politicians
- National Solidarity Party (Guatemala) politicians
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