Aristóbulo Istúriz
Encyclopedia
Aristóbulo Istúriz is a Venezuelan politician and academic. He was a professor at the Centro de Estudios del Desarrollo (CENDES) of the Universidad Central de Venezuela. He was elected to Parliament several times for Acción Democrática, representing the Federal District (now the Capital District
), before joining the Radical Cause
in 1986. He was elected mayor of the Libertador Municipality
of Caracas
on December 6, 1992, a position he would remain in until January 2, 1996. After finishing his term as mayor (having lost his re-election bid to Antonio Ledezma
), he became co-presenter of the Globovisión
TV show Blanco y Negro.
In 1997, together with some other ex-Radical Cause-members, he co-founded the Homeland for All (Patria Para Todos, PPT)
, which in the 1998 presidential election decided to support Hugo Chávez
. Between 2001 and 2007 he served as Minister of Education
in Chávez' government. In 2008 Istúriz was the pro-Chávez Patriotic Alliance's candidate for mayor of Caracas; he was narrowly defeated.
He is a former leader of the Venezuelan teachers' association SUMA.
Venezuelan Capital District
The Capital District of Venezuela is a federal district corresponding to the capital Caracas. It has an area of 433 km² and there is only one administrative division , Libertador, which contains about half City of Caracas. It is the seat of the federal government and the head of the public...
), before joining the Radical Cause
Radical Cause
The Radical Cause is a working class political party in Venezuela, part of the Venezuelan opposition to president Hugo Chavez...
in 1986. He was elected mayor of the Libertador Municipality
Libertador Municipality (Venezuelan Capital District)
The Libertador Bolivarian Municipality is the only administrative division of the Venezuelan Capital District and along with the municipalities of Baruta, Chacao, El Hatillo and Sucre forms the Metropolitan District of Caracas. It is located in the western portion of Caracas. It is landlocked by...
of Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
on December 6, 1992, a position he would remain in until January 2, 1996. After finishing his term as mayor (having lost his re-election bid to Antonio Ledezma
Antonio Ledezma
Antonio José Ledezma Díaz is a Venezuelan lawyer and politician. After involvement in politics in his home state of Guárico in the 1970s for Democratic Action, he served two terms in the Venezuelan Chamber of Deputies , and was elected to the Venezuelan Senate in 1994...
), he became co-presenter of the Globovisión
Globovisión
Globovisión is a 24-hour television news network in Venezuela. It broadcasts over-the-air in Caracas, Aragua, Carabobo and Zulia on UHF channel 33. Globovisión is seen in the rest of Venezuela on cable or satellite and worldwide from their website...
TV show Blanco y Negro.
In 1997, together with some other ex-Radical Cause-members, he co-founded the Homeland for All (Patria Para Todos, PPT)
Homeland for All
Fatherland for All is a left-wing political party in Venezuela. It was founded in 1997 by members of The Radical Cause party who supported Hugo Chávez. It is led by José Albornoz....
, which in the 1998 presidential election decided to support Hugo Chávez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
. Between 2001 and 2007 he served as Minister of Education
Venezuelan Ministry of Education
The Venezuelan Ministry of Education is the federal-level organ responsible for organising the education system of Venezuela. In 2001 it was the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture, with responsibility for Culture and Sport being assigned to separate ministries on 14 February 2005 and 6...
in Chávez' government. In 2008 Istúriz was the pro-Chávez Patriotic Alliance's candidate for mayor of Caracas; he was narrowly defeated.
He is a former leader of the Venezuelan teachers' association SUMA.