Misael Pastrana Borrero

Misael Pastrana Borrero
31st President of Colombia
In office 7 August 1970 – 7 August 1974
Preceded by	Carlos Lleras Restrepo
Succeeded by	Alfonso López Michelsen
16th Colombia Ambassador to United States
In office 17 January 1969 – 3 February1970
President	Carlos Lleras Restrepo
Preceded by	Hernan Echavarría Olózaga
Succeeded by	Douglas Botero Boshel
Colombian Minister of Government
In office 7 August 1966 – 6 November 1968
President	Carlos Lleras Restrepo
Preceded by	Pedro Gómez Valderrama
Succeeded by	Carlos Augusto Noriega
Colombian Minister of Finance and Public Credit
In office 1 September 1961 – 16 November 1961
President	Alberto Lleras Camargo
Preceded by	Hernando Agudelo Villa
Succeeded by	Jorge Mejía Palacio
Colombian Minister of Public Works
In office 9 November 1960 – 1 September1961
President	Alberto Lleras Camargo
Preceded by	Virgilio Barco Vargas
Succeeded by	Carlos Obando Velasco
12th Colombian Minister of Foment
In office 5 May 1960 – 9 November 1960
President	Alberto Lleras Camargo
Preceded by	Rodrigo Llorente Martínez
Succeeded by	Rafael Unda Ferrero
Personal details
Born	Misael Eduardo Pastrana Borrero November 14, 1923(1923-11-14) Neiva, Huila, Colombia
Died	August 21, 1997(1997-08-21) (aged 73) Bogotá, DC, Colombia
Nationality	Colombian
Political party	Conservative
Spouse(s)	Maria Cristina Arango Vega
Children	Juan Carlos Pastrana Arango Andrés Pastrana Arango Jaime Pastrana Arango Cristina Pastrana Arango
Alma mater	Pontifical Xavierian University
Profession	Lawyer, Economist
Religion	Roman Catholic

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Pastrana and the second or maternal family name is Borrero.

Misael Pastrana Borrero (November 14, 1923 – August 21, 1997), was a Conservative Party politician and President of Colombia from 1970 to 1974, the last presidential period of the National Front. Misael Pastrana became President after a close election campaign against Gen. Gustavo Rojas Pinilla, a former dictator. Mr. Pastrana's term is generally known for protecting the rights of large landowners and encouraging housing construction as an engine of growth. A law passed in 1973 barred the Government from expropriating land without the owner's consent. His administration also gave financial incentives to commercial agriculture, which created jobs and greatly improved farm wages.

Biographic data

Pastrana was born in Neiva, Huila.^[1] He died in Bogotá, on August 21, 1997.

Personal life

Pastrana was a conservative politician Colombia, President of Colombia in the period 1970-1974. Born in the home of Misael Pastrana Pastrana and Elisa Borrero Perdomo, studied Laws in Javeriana University of Bogotá and in the Ferri Institute of Rome. He had been affiliated to the Conservative Party (which he would later rename as the Social Conservative Party). He was the private secretary of the President Mariano Ospina Pérez (1949-1952)and three times a minister during the second liberal presidency of Alberto Lleras Camargo (1958-1962).

During the Presidency of Carlos Lleras Restrepo, he was Minister of Government 1966-1968 and later ambassador in Washington from 1968-1970 President of the Worldwide Prize of Environment of the United Nations recognition given by having done in the planet, first Environmental Code for Natural Resources, Vice-president of Worldwide Prize for Peace of UNESCO. Founder of World-Wide Center of Computer Science next to Jean-Jacqes Serban-Shereiver in the seventies before the personal computer existed. Founder member of Interaction, group of former presidents and Chiefs of State of the United Nations to deal with great subjects the world and to present recommendations to the governments.

Presidency

During his four years in office, Pastrana was cautiously progressive. He sought to increase employment opportunities with a famous four-point strategy. He attempted to boost national savings as a way of moving away from dependency on foreign investment and credit, and he extended pensions rights for many people.

At the same time, he was a champion of "a car for every Colombian family", and was instrumental in bringing the French car-makers Renault to Colombia. He also promoted the first national environmental legislation in Latin America.

The end of his four year-term in office came in 1974, which also saw the end of the National Front governments. Pastrana then took on the mantle of the "natural leader" of the Conservative party. He proved unable to hold the different factions of the party together, however, and in consequence there has only been one Conservative president since his own term in office.

He died in Bogotá at the age of 73.^[2] Married to Maria Cristina Arango, with whom he had three sons and one daughter. His second son, Andrés Pastrana Arango eventually became president of Colombia 1998 to 2002.

References

1. ^ Arismendi Posada, Ignacio; Gobernantes Colombianos; trans. Colombian Presidents; Interprint Editors Ltd., Italgraf, Segunda Edición; Page 241; Bogotá, Colombia; 1983
2. ^ Nick Caistor (August 26, 1997). "Obituary: Misael Pastrana". The Independent. 

Persondata
Name	Pastrana Borrero, Misael
Alternative names	Pastrana, Misael
Short description	President of Colombia
Date of birth	14 November 1923
Place of birth	Neiva, Huila, Colombia
Date of death	21 August 1997
Place of death	Bogotá, DC, Colombia