Manuel Baldizón
Encyclopedia
Dr. Manuel Antonio Baldizón Méndez (born 6 May 1970) is a Guatemala
n politician, lawyer, and hotel entrepreneur. He is the leader of the Renewed Democratic Liberty
(LIDER) party, and a candidate in the 2011 presidential election
.
. He completed his military service
in the infantry
as Second Lieutenant
of the reserve in 1987. Subsequently, he studied English at the University of Oxford
, from which he received an Honours degree in 1989. In 2000, he received his licentiate
degree in jurisprudence
and social science, licence as solicitor
and notary
from the Universidad Mariano Galvez
. Baldizón added postgradual studies at the University of Valparaíso, Chile, which he completed with an MBA
with honorable mentions. In 2004, he obtained his doctorate in law from the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala
. Afterwards, he took post-doctoral courses at the University of Salamanca
, Spain.
for the National Advancement Party
(PAN) in 2003, but joined the National Unity of Hope
(UNE) of Álvaro Colom
in 2006. Baldizón was re-elected as a Congressman in 2007. He defected from the governing UNE in 2008 and founded the LIDER party. In the 2011 general election, Manuel Baldizón is a presidential candidate. His running mate is Raquel Blandón, ex-wife of former president Vinicio Cerezo
. In the first round on 11 September he won 1,004,215 votes (22.68%) and could qualify for the runoff on 6 November. However he was defeated by the retired general Otto Pérez Molina of the Patriotic Party
in this second turn, winning 1,980,819 votes (46.26%).
, a devout Christian, and a proponent of the death penalty
. Special interest has been attracted by his promises to televise executions and to lead Guatemala's football team
to the World Cup
.
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
n politician, lawyer, and hotel entrepreneur. He is the leader of the Renewed Democratic Liberty
Renewed Democratic Liberty
Renewed Democratic Liberty is a centrist political party in Guatemala.It was founded as a parliamentary group by defectors from the then governing National Unity of Hope party of President Álvaro Colom in 2008. It was officially registered as a political party in 2010...
(LIDER) party, and a candidate in the 2011 presidential election
Guatemalan general election, 2011
Elections were held on 11 September, 2011 in Guatemala for the offices of President and Vice President; as well as members of Congress by national list and districts, members to the Central American Parliament, and the Mayor and council for all the Municipalities. All positions were elected for a...
.
Early life and education
Manuel Baldizón originates from Flores, El PeténFlores, El Petén
Flores is the capital city of Petén department of Guatemala. It is located at . The population is 13,700 .Flores serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality, with which it shares a name ....
. He completed his military service
Military service
Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft . Some nations require a specific amount of military service from every citizen...
in the infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
as Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
of the reserve in 1987. Subsequently, he studied English at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, from which he received an Honours degree in 1989. In 2000, he received his licentiate
Licentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
degree in jurisprudence
Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
and social science, licence as solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
and notary
Notary
A notary is a lawyer or person with legal training who is licensed by the state to perform acts in legal affairs, in particular witnessing signatures on documents...
from the Universidad Mariano Galvez
Universidad Mariano Galvez
-External links:*...
. Baldizón added postgradual studies at the University of Valparaíso, Chile, which he completed with an MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
with honorable mentions. In 2004, he obtained his doctorate in law from the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala
Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala
The Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala It is the biggest and oldest university of Guatemala, also it is the fourth founded in the Americas....
. Afterwards, he took post-doctoral courses at the University of Salamanca
University of Salamanca
The University of Salamanca is a Spanish higher education institution, located in the town of Salamanca, west of Madrid. It was founded in 1134 and given the Royal charter of foundation by King Alfonso IX in 1218. It is the oldest founded university in Spain and the third oldest European...
, Spain.
Political career
He was elected to the CongressCongress of Guatemala
The Congress of the Republic is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of Guatemala.It comprises 158 deputies, who are elected by direct universal suffrage to serve four-year terms . Twenty-nine of these are elected from nationwide lists, with the rest on a district list basis...
for the National Advancement Party
National Advancement Party
The National Advancement Party is a political party in Guatemala. It was founded in 1989.In the 1990 and 1995 elections its presidential candidate was Álvaro Arzú who won in 1995, becoming Guatemala's 32nd president ....
(PAN) in 2003, but joined the National Unity of Hope
National Unity of Hope
The National Unity of Hope is a political party in Guatemala. It was founded in 2002 and defines itself as a social-democratic and social-Christian party....
(UNE) of Álvaro Colom
Álvaro Colom
Álvaro Colom Caballeros is the President of Guatemala for the 2008–2012 term and leader of the social-democratic National Unity of Hope .-Early years:...
in 2006. Baldizón was re-elected as a Congressman in 2007. He defected from the governing UNE in 2008 and founded the LIDER party. In the 2011 general election, Manuel Baldizón is a presidential candidate. His running mate is Raquel Blandón, ex-wife of former president Vinicio Cerezo
Vinicio Cerezo
Marco Vinicio Cerezo Arévalo is a Guatemalan politician. He served as President of Guatemala from 14 January 1986 to 14 January 1991 and currently sits in Congress.-Career:...
. In the first round on 11 September he won 1,004,215 votes (22.68%) and could qualify for the runoff on 6 November. However he was defeated by the retired general Otto Pérez Molina of the Patriotic Party
Patriotic Party (Guatemala)
The Patriotic Party is a right wing political party in Guatemala.It was founded on 24 February 2001 by retired Army General Otto Pérez Molina.-2003 election:...
in this second turn, winning 1,980,819 votes (46.26%).
Characterization
In press, Manuel Baldizón has been described as a multimillionaire, a populistPopulism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
, a devout Christian, and a proponent of the death penalty
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
. Special interest has been attracted by his promises to televise executions and to lead Guatemala's football team
Guatemala national football team
The Guatemala national football team is the association football team representing the country of Guatemala and is controlled by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala. Founded in 1919, it affiliated to FIFA in 1946, and it is a member of CONCACAF....
to the World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
.