Carlos Lemos Simmonds
Encyclopedia
Carlos Apolinar Lemos Simmonds (October 23, 1933–July 30, 2003) was a Colombian
politician
and journalist
that served as President
and Vice President of Colombia
in 1997. He is the only vice president of Colombia to become president in the Colombian Constitution of 1991
era under the statutes of the presidential line of succession, after President Ernesto Samper
absented due to health problems.
for high school he went to the University of Cauca Liceum, he continue studying in this same institution until graduating as a lawyer. During these years Lemos married Maria Victoria Pérez y Soto Bohorquez. In 1985 married Marta Blanco with whom he lived most of his political glories.
, Cauca. He later transferred to Bogotá
where he was elected councilman in the early 1970s for three consecutives terms. He then ran for the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia
. During the government of President Julio César Turbay Lemos was appointed as Secretary General of the Presidency of Colombia. In the same administration he was promoted to minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
, after that he was shifted to different ministries
, Ministry of Government, Ministry of Telecomunications.
Lemos served later as Ambassador of Colombia to the Organization of American States
(OAS), drafter of the Colombian Constitution of 1991
, Ambassador of Colombia to Austria
, Ambassador of Colombia to Great Britain
, senator, vice president
and president of Colombia
temporarily.
As a member of the Colombian Foreign Affairs Commission he contributed towards resolving the dispute over San Andrés y Providencia Islands in the Caribbean sea
between Colombia and Nicaragua
for territorial waters. He also negotiated the peace process with the M-19
guerrilla.
Newspaper articles
TV
Conducted the political TV shows called "Mesa de Café" (Coffee table), "Debates Caracol" (Caracol Debates in Caracol TV
) and "Fuerza de la Historia" (Force of History).
and his last days were spent in the línica del Country], hospitalized and decaying tired and losing weight. He finally died on July 30, 2003.
Colombian people
Colombian people are from a multiethnic Spanish speaking nation in South America called Colombia. Colombians are predominantly Roman Catholic and are a mixture of Europeans, Africans, and Amerindians.-Demography:...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
that served as President
President of Colombia
The President of Colombia is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Colombia. The office of president was established upon the ratification of the Constitution of 1819, by the Congress of Angostura, convened in December 1819, when Colombia was part of "la Gran Colombia"...
and Vice President of Colombia
Vice President of Colombia
The Vice President of Colombia is the first in the presidential line of succession, becoming the new President of Colombia upon leaves of absence or death, resignation, or removal of the President, as designated by the Colombian Constitution of 1991 which also reinstated the vice president figure...
in 1997. He is the only vice president of Colombia to become president in the Colombian Constitution of 1991
Colombian Constitution of 1991
The Political Constitution of Colombia, better known as the Constitution of 1991, is the current governing document of the Republic of Colombia. Promulgated on July 4 of 1991 , it replaced the Constitution of 1886...
era under the statutes of the presidential line of succession, after President Ernesto Samper
Ernesto Samper
Ernesto Samper Pizano is a Colombian politician. He served as the President of Colombia from August 7, 1994 to August 7, 1998, representing the Liberal Party. He was involved in the 8000 process scandal, which takes its name from the folio number assigned to it by the chief prosecutor's office...
absented due to health problems.
Early years
Lemos went to middle school in the Colegio Champagnat in the city of PopayánPopayán
Popayán is the capital of the Colombian department of Cauca. It is located in southwestern Colombia between Colombia's Western Mountain Range and Central Mountain Range...
for high school he went to the University of Cauca Liceum, he continue studying in this same institution until graduating as a lawyer. During these years Lemos married Maria Victoria Pérez y Soto Bohorquez. In 1985 married Marta Blanco with whom he lived most of his political glories.
Political career
After graduating Lemos worked as a Municipal Judge in the town of PiendamóPiendamó, Cauca
Piendamó es un pueblo del el departamento del Cauca Department, Colombia....
, Cauca. He later transferred to Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
where he was elected councilman in the early 1970s for three consecutives terms. He then ran for the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia
Chamber of Representatives of Colombia
The Chamber of Representatives is the lower house of the Congress of Colombia.The Chamber has 166 elected members for four-year terms.-How the Chamber is elected:...
. During the government of President Julio César Turbay Lemos was appointed as Secretary General of the Presidency of Colombia. In the same administration he was promoted to minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Colombia)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also known as the Chancellery, is the national executive ministry of the Government of Colombia responsible for the foreign relations of Colombia through its diplomatic missions abroad by formulating foreign policy relevant to the matters of the State, it is...
, after that he was shifted to different ministries
Council of Ministers of the Republic of Colombia
The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Colombia is part of the executive power, and according to the presidential orientation of the Colombian Constitution of 1991, it is a cabinet of advisors to the President of Colombia.-19th century:...
, Ministry of Government, Ministry of Telecomunications.
Lemos served later as Ambassador of Colombia to the Organization of American States
Organization of American States
The Organization of American States is a regional international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States...
(OAS), drafter of the Colombian Constitution of 1991
Colombian Constitution of 1991
The Political Constitution of Colombia, better known as the Constitution of 1991, is the current governing document of the Republic of Colombia. Promulgated on July 4 of 1991 , it replaced the Constitution of 1886...
, Ambassador of Colombia to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Ambassador of Colombia to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, senator, vice president
Vice President of Colombia
The Vice President of Colombia is the first in the presidential line of succession, becoming the new President of Colombia upon leaves of absence or death, resignation, or removal of the President, as designated by the Colombian Constitution of 1991 which also reinstated the vice president figure...
and president of Colombia
President of Colombia
The President of Colombia is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Colombia. The office of president was established upon the ratification of the Constitution of 1819, by the Congress of Angostura, convened in December 1819, when Colombia was part of "la Gran Colombia"...
temporarily.
As a member of the Colombian Foreign Affairs Commission he contributed towards resolving the dispute over San Andrés y Providencia Islands in the Caribbean sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
between Colombia and Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
for territorial waters. He also negotiated the peace process with the M-19
19th of April Movement
The 19th of April Movement or M-19, was a Colombian guerrilla movement. After its demobilization it became a political party, the M-19 Democratic Alliance , or AD/M-19.The M-19 traced its origins to the allegedly fraudulent presidential elections of 19 April 1970...
guerrilla.
Journalism
Lemos was also a notable journalist, writer and historian. He was a regular columnist for the Colombian newspaper El Espacio titled "Entre la Romana y el Pasaje" and also worked as its subdirector. Lemos founded the Diario Liberal newspaper and was once an owner of the Revista Consigna magazine.Published work
Books- "Memorias de un antigobierno" (Memories of an antigovernment)
- "El Estado Ladrón" (The Thief State)
- "El Rescate de la moral" (The Rescue of Moral)
- "Turbay, de la Base a la Cumbre" (Turbay, from the base to the peak)
- "Santander".
Newspaper articles
- "Opinión" (Opinion), a column in El Tiempo newspaper.
- Revista Diners, articles.
- Diario Liberal, articles.
TV
Conducted the political TV shows called "Mesa de Café" (Coffee table), "Debates Caracol" (Caracol Debates in Caracol TV
Caracol TV
Caracol Televisión is a Colombian private national television network, owned by Julio Mario Santo Domingo.- History :Caracol Televisión started in 1954 when Organización de Radiodifusora Caracol offered to afford national television costs, then state-run, through commercial spots...
) and "Fuerza de la Historia" (Force of History).
Death
Lemos suffered from CancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
and his last days were spent in the línica del Country], hospitalized and decaying tired and losing weight. He finally died on July 30, 2003.