Porfirio Pepe Lobo
Encyclopedia
Porfirio Lobo Sosa known as Pepe Lobo, is the President
of Honduras
, a politician and agricultural landowner. A member of the National Party
(a center-right conservative political party) and a former deputy in the National Congress of Honduras
from 1990, he was President of the National Congress of Honduras
from 2002 to 2006. He came second to Manuel Zelaya
with 46% of the vote in the 2005 general election
. He was elected president in the 2009 presidential election
and took office on 27 January 2010.
. His brother Ramón Rosa Lobo Sosa is a deputy in the National Congress for the department of Colón
.
After attending a Catholic school in Juticalpa, he furthered his studies at the San Francisco Institute of Tegucigalpa
and then at the University of Miami
in the United States
. After obtaining his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Miami, he returned to Honduras
to work in the family's agricultural business, and to teach political economics and English at the La Fraternidad Institute in Juticalpa for 11 years. He was granted a doctorate by Patrice Lumumba University
in Moscow . Porfirio Lobo Sosa holds a black belt in taekwondo
.
. In the course of 31 years, he presided over the National Party's Youth in Olancho, Local Committee of Juticalpa and the Departmental Committee of Olancho.
He was in charge of the Honduran Corporation for Forestry Development from 1990 to 1994. He was elected to the National Congress in 1990, where he later served as president from 2002 to 2006.
' candidate for the 27 November 2005 presidential election
; Mario Canahuati
was his running mate. His campaign was based on job security, a tough stance on crime, and being in favour of reintroducing the death penalty. He came in second in the presidential election with 46.17% of the vote against 49.90% from his rival Manuel Zelaya
of the Liberal Party of Honduras
. He held the position of president of the National Party of Honduras
.
with 56% of the vote against 38% for his rival Elvin Santos.
Following his victory, Lobo said his administration will begin the great national dialogue.
Lobo promised to encourage private investment to create jobs while increasing social benefits in a country where 70% of the seven million people lived in poverty.
argued that "at least eight journalists and ten members of the National Popular Resistance Front (FNRP)—a political group that opposed the 2009 coup and advocated the reinstatement of the ousted president, Manuel Zelaya—have been killed since President Lobo assumed power on January 27, 2010." Human Rights Watch has also reported attacks on the independence of the judiciary and public prosecutors. However, the Obama administration has praised Mr. Lobo for his attempts at reconciliation, which include forming a truth commission to investigate events surrounding the coup as well as appointing a human rights adviser and political opponents to his government.
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President of Honduras
This page lists the Presidents of Honduras.Colonial Honduras declared its independence from Spain on 15 September 1821. From 5 January 1822 to 1 July 1823, Honduras was part of the First Mexican Empire of Agustín de Iturbide....
of Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
, a politician and agricultural landowner. A member of the National Party
National Party of Honduras
The National Party is a centre-right conservative political party in Honduras and the main right-wing political party in the country. Founded in 1902 the PNH is identified with the color blue as its rival the Liberal Party of Honduras , is red. All the democratic elections in Honduras have been...
(a center-right conservative political party) and a former deputy in the National Congress of Honduras
National Congress of Honduras
The National Congress is the legislative branch of the government of Honduras.The Honduran Congress is a unicameral legislature. The current President of the National Congress of Honduras is Juan Orlando Hernández. Its members are 128 deputies, who are elected on a proportional representation...
from 1990, he was President of the National Congress of Honduras
President of the National Congress of Honduras
The President of the National Congress of Honduras is the presiding officer of the National Congress of Honduras. The current President of the National Congress is Juan Orlando Hernández.- Presidents of the Congress 20th Century :...
from 2002 to 2006. He came second to Manuel Zelaya
Manuel Zelaya
José Manuel Zelaya Rosales is a politician who was President of Honduras from January 27, 2006 until June 28, 2009. The eldest son of a wealthy businessman, he inherited his father's nickname "Mel," and, before entering politics, was involved in his family's logging and timber businesses.Elected...
with 46% of the vote in the 2005 general election
Honduran general election, 2005
General elections were held in Honduras to elect the President of Honduras, Vice-President, and deputies to the National Congress of Honduras on 27 November, 2005. For the 2005 election the constitution was amended to create a single vice-president...
. He was elected president in the 2009 presidential election
Honduran general election, 2009
The Honduran general election, 2009 was held in Honduras on 29 November 2009, including presidential, parliamentary and local elections. Voters went to the polls to elect:*A new President of Honduras to serve a four-year term starting January 27, 2010....
and took office on 27 January 2010.
Family and early career
Lobo was born in Trujillo and grew up on the ranch of La Empalizada near Juticalpa, Olancho. His parents are Porfirio José Lobo López and Rosa Sosa Hernández de Lobo, both deceased. His father served as deputy in the National Congress in 1957 and was a known political leader in the department of OlanchoOlancho (department)
Olancho is one of the 18 departments into which the Central American nation of Honduras is divided. It is the largest of all the departments, and Hondurans frequently point out that the department is larger than the neighboring Republic of El Salvador...
. His brother Ramón Rosa Lobo Sosa is a deputy in the National Congress for the department of Colón
Colón (department)
Colón is one of the 18 departments into which the Central American nation of Honduras is divided. It was created in 1881. The departmental capital is Trujillo, and the other main city is Tocoa...
.
After attending a Catholic school in Juticalpa, he furthered his studies at the San Francisco Institute of Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
and then at the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. After obtaining his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Miami, he returned to Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
to work in the family's agricultural business, and to teach political economics and English at the La Fraternidad Institute in Juticalpa for 11 years. He was granted a doctorate by Patrice Lumumba University
Peoples' Friendship University of Russia
The Peoples' Friendship University of Russia is an educational and research institution located in the South of Moscow and is ranked by the Ministry of Education of Russia as the country's third-best university after Moscow State University and Saint Petersburg State University...
in Moscow . Porfirio Lobo Sosa holds a black belt in taekwondo
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
.
Political career
Porfirio Lobo's political career started at the age of 19 as a young political leader in OlanchoOlancho (department)
Olancho is one of the 18 departments into which the Central American nation of Honduras is divided. It is the largest of all the departments, and Hondurans frequently point out that the department is larger than the neighboring Republic of El Salvador...
. In the course of 31 years, he presided over the National Party's Youth in Olancho, Local Committee of Juticalpa and the Departmental Committee of Olancho.
He was in charge of the Honduran Corporation for Forestry Development from 1990 to 1994. He was elected to the National Congress in 1990, where he later served as president from 2002 to 2006.
2005 Honduran general election
Lobo was the National Party of HondurasNational Party of Honduras
The National Party is a centre-right conservative political party in Honduras and the main right-wing political party in the country. Founded in 1902 the PNH is identified with the color blue as its rival the Liberal Party of Honduras , is red. All the democratic elections in Honduras have been...
' candidate for the 27 November 2005 presidential election
Honduran general election, 2005
General elections were held in Honduras to elect the President of Honduras, Vice-President, and deputies to the National Congress of Honduras on 27 November, 2005. For the 2005 election the constitution was amended to create a single vice-president...
; Mario Canahuati
Mario Canahuati
Mario Canahuati is a Honduran politician, businessman and a former Honduran ambassador to the United States. He is a former President of the Honduran Council of Private Enterprise ....
was his running mate. His campaign was based on job security, a tough stance on crime, and being in favour of reintroducing the death penalty. He came in second in the presidential election with 46.17% of the vote against 49.90% from his rival Manuel Zelaya
Manuel Zelaya
José Manuel Zelaya Rosales is a politician who was President of Honduras from January 27, 2006 until June 28, 2009. The eldest son of a wealthy businessman, he inherited his father's nickname "Mel," and, before entering politics, was involved in his family's logging and timber businesses.Elected...
of the Liberal Party of Honduras
Liberal Party of Honduras
The Liberal Party of Honduras is a centre-left liberal political party in Honduras that was founded in 1891. The party is a member of the Liberal International...
. He held the position of president of the National Party of Honduras
National Party of Honduras
The National Party is a centre-right conservative political party in Honduras and the main right-wing political party in the country. Founded in 1902 the PNH is identified with the color blue as its rival the Liberal Party of Honduras , is red. All the democratic elections in Honduras have been...
.
2009 Honduran constitutional crisis and general election
In December 2008, he once again became the presidential candidate of the PNH and on 29 November 2009 he was elected President of HondurasPresident of Honduras
This page lists the Presidents of Honduras.Colonial Honduras declared its independence from Spain on 15 September 1821. From 5 January 1822 to 1 July 1823, Honduras was part of the First Mexican Empire of Agustín de Iturbide....
with 56% of the vote against 38% for his rival Elvin Santos.
Following his victory, Lobo said his administration will begin the great national dialogue.
Lobo promised to encourage private investment to create jobs while increasing social benefits in a country where 70% of the seven million people lived in poverty.
Presidency
Human Rights WatchHuman Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
argued that "at least eight journalists and ten members of the National Popular Resistance Front (FNRP)—a political group that opposed the 2009 coup and advocated the reinstatement of the ousted president, Manuel Zelaya—have been killed since President Lobo assumed power on January 27, 2010." Human Rights Watch has also reported attacks on the independence of the judiciary and public prosecutors. However, the Obama administration has praised Mr. Lobo for his attempts at reconciliation, which include forming a truth commission to investigate events surrounding the coup as well as appointing a human rights adviser and political opponents to his government.
External links
- Biography by CIDOB Foundation (in Spanish)
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