Álvaro Gómez Hurtado
Encyclopedia
Álvaro Gómez Hurtado was a Colombian
lawyer
, politician
, journalist
and active member of the Colombian Conservative Party
. Gómez was a son of the former President of Colombia
, Laureano Gómez
. He is mostly remembered for being one of the writers of the Colombian Constitution of 1991
and for failing three times to win election to the presidency.
. He attended school in Brussels
, Belgium and Buenos Aires
, Argentina
while his father was a diplomat. They returned to Bogotá and Gómez went to the Colegio de San Bartolomé, graduating in 1936. He then studied law at the Pontifical Xavierian University
graduating as lawyer in 1941 with his thesis Influencias del Estoicismo en el Derecho Romano ("The Influence of Stoicism
in Roman Law").
and was elected for a four year term. After finishing his term, he was elected to the Senate
. Gómez was named "plenipotentiary minister" several times. He was also appointed as Ambassador to the United Nations
, Switzerland, Italy, United States and France.
for whom he unsuccessfully ran for the presidency of Colombia three times: In 1974 against Alfonso López Michelsen
, in 1986 against Virgilio Barco and in 1990 against César Gaviria
.
that created the Colombian Constitution of 1991
. He was co-president of the Constituent Assembly along with Horacio Serpa and Antonio Navarro
. After the Constitution was written, Gómez left politics and focused on journalism and academia.
guerrillas, then led by Antonio Navarro
. Navarro released him after the intervention of Álvaro Leyva.
where he was a professor. It was suggested a former Norte del Valle Cartel
member named Luis Hernando Gomez
(aka "rasguño") that Gómez was killed by former members of the Colombian National Police
to help some politicians involved in the 8000 Process scandal.
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:...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, 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...
and active member of the Colombian Conservative Party
Colombian Conservative Party
The Colombian Conservative Party , is a conservative political party in Colombia. The party was unofficially founded by a group of Revolutionary Commoners during the Revolutionary War for Independence from the Spanish Monarchy and later formally established during the Greater Colombia...
. Gómez was a son of the former 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"...
, Laureano Gómez
Laureano Gómez
Laureano Eleuterio Gómez Castro was President of Colombia from 1950 to 1953, and long time leader of the Colombian Conservative Party.-Pre-election:...
. He is mostly remembered for being one of the writers 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...
and for failing three times to win election to the presidency.
Early years
Álvaro Gómez grew up in a traditional neighborhood of Bogotá, La CandelariaLa Candelaria
La Candelaria is a historic neighborhood in downtown Bogotá, Colombia. It is the equivalent to the Old City in other cities. The architecture of the old houses, churches and buildings has Spanish Colonial and Baroque styles...
. He attended school in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium and Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
while his father was a diplomat. They returned to Bogotá and Gómez went to the Colegio de San Bartolomé, graduating in 1936. He then studied law at the Pontifical Xavierian University
Pontifical Xavierian University
The Pontificia Universidad Javeriana is a private higher education institution founded in 1623. It is one of the oldest, most traditional, and prestigious Colombian universities, directed by the Society of Jesus, with its main facilities in Bogotá and a second campus in Cali...
graduating as lawyer in 1941 with his thesis Influencias del Estoicismo en el Derecho Romano ("The Influence of Stoicism
Stoicism
Stoicism is a school of Hellenistic philosophy founded in Athens by Zeno of Citium in the early . The Stoics taught that destructive emotions resulted from errors in judgment, and that a sage, or person of "moral and intellectual perfection," would not suffer such emotions.Stoics were concerned...
in Roman Law").
Journalism
He began writing for the newspaper El Siglo, which was owned by his father. He later founded a business weekly magazine called Síntesis Económica ("Economic Synthesis") and created and produced a TV news show called Noticiero 24 Horas ("24 Hours News").Political career
Gómez Hurtado's first political office was as councilman for the city of Bogotá. He then ran for the Chamber of Representatives of ColombiaChamber 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:...
and was elected for a four year term. After finishing his term, he was elected to the Senate
Senate of Colombia
The Senate of the Republic of Colombia is the upper house of the Congress of Colombia, with the lower house being the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia...
. Gómez was named "plenipotentiary minister" several times. He was also appointed as Ambassador to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, Switzerland, Italy, United States and France.
Presidential candidacies
Gómez also founded the National Salvation MovementNational Salvation Movement
The National Salvation Movement is a conservative political party in Colombia.At the last legislative elections, 10 March 2002 , the party, as one of the many small parties, won parliamentary representation. In the simultaneous legislative elections of 2006, the party won 1 out of 166 Deputies and...
for whom he unsuccessfully ran for the presidency of Colombia three times: In 1974 against Alfonso López Michelsen
Alfonso López Michelsen
Alfonso López Michelsen was a Colombian politician, lawyer and journalist. Lopez Michelsen was President of Colombia from 1974 to 1978. He was the son of Alfonso López Pumarejo, who was also president of Colombia from 1934 to 1938, and once again from 1942 to 1945...
, in 1986 against Virgilio Barco and in 1990 against César Gaviria
César Gaviria
César Gaviria Trujillo is a Colombian politician and a Latin American statesman. He served as President of Colombia from 1990 to 1994, and Secretary General of the Organization of American States from 1994 until 2004.-Early life:...
.
President of the Constituent Assembly
He was elected to the Constituent AssemblyConstituent Assembly of Colombia
The Constituent Assembly of Colombia was formed on February 5, 1991, to draft Colombia's 1991 constitution. It was dissolved in June 1991, after the new document was adopted nationwide.-Background:...
that created 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...
. He was co-president of the Constituent Assembly along with Horacio Serpa and Antonio Navarro
Antonio Navarro Wolff
Antonio Navarro Wolff is a Colombian politician and former commander of the 19th of April Movement guerrilla group, which demobilized and formed a political party which he also led...
. After the Constitution was written, Gómez left politics and focused on journalism and academia.
Kidnapping
In 1988, Gómez was kidnapped by the M-1919th 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...
guerrillas, then led by Antonio Navarro
Antonio Navarro Wolff
Antonio Navarro Wolff is a Colombian politician and former commander of the 19th of April Movement guerrilla group, which demobilized and formed a political party which he also led...
. Navarro released him after the intervention of Álvaro Leyva.
Death
Álvaro Gómez was murdered by gunmen on November 2, 1995 in Bogotá while leaving the Sergio Arboleda UniversitySergio Arboleda University
Sergio Arboleda University is a Roman Catholic university located in Bogotá, Colombia, with a sectional located in Santa Marta, Colombia.Pedro Carmona former coupster against the government of Hugo_Chávez in Venezuela holds a post as university professor....
where he was a professor. It was suggested a former Norte del Valle Cartel
Norte del Valle Cartel
The Norte del Valle Cartel, or North Valley Cartel, is a drug cartel that operates principally in the north of the Valle del Cauca department of Colombia...
member named Luis Hernando Gomez
Luis Hernando Gomez
Luis Hernando Gómez Bustamante is a Colombian drug trafficker for the Norte del Valle Cartel, who was arrested in 2004 and, on July 19, 2007 transported for extradition to the United States on charges of money laundering and drug smuggling...
(aka "rasguño") that Gómez was killed by former members of the Colombian National Police
Colombian National Police
The National Police of Colombia is the national police force of Colombia. Although the National Police is not part of the Military of Colombia , it constitutes along with them the "Public Force" and is also controlled by the Ministry of Defense. They are the largest police force in Colombia...
to help some politicians involved in the 8000 Process scandal.
Published work
- La Revolución en América. (Revolution in the Americas)
- La Calidad de Vida. (The Qualilty of Life)
- Soy libre. (I am Free)
- Compilación de conferencias dictadas en la Universidad Sergio Arboleda. (Compilation of his Conferences at the Sergio Arboleda University)