Nicanor Duarte
Óscar Nicanor Duarte Frutos (born 11 October 1956) is a Paraguayan lawyer, journalist and politician who served as President of Paraguay from 2003 to 2008. A member of the Colorado Party, he became the central figure of Paraguayan politics during his presidency.
Nicanor Duarte | |
|---|---|
Duarte in 2006 | |
| 47th President of Paraguay | |
| In office 15 August 2003 – 15 August 2008 | |
| Vice President | Luis Castiglioni Francisco Oviedo |
| Preceded by | Luis González Macchi |
| Succeeded by | Fernando Lugo |
| Paraguayan Director of the Yacyretá Dam | |
| Assumed office 15 August 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Ángel María Recalde |
| Paraguayan Ambassador to Argentina | |
| In office 25 October 2013 – 4 January 2016 | |
| President | Horacio Cartes |
| Preceded by | Gabriel Enciso López |
| Succeeded by | Federico González |
| President of the Colorado Party | |
| In office 15 May 2001 – 14 August 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Bader Rachid Lichi |
| Succeeded by | José Alberto Alderete |
| Minister of Education and Culture | |
| In office 30 March 1999 – 29 January 2001 | |
| President | Luis González Macchi |
| Preceded by | Celsa Bareiro de Soto |
| Succeeded by | Darío Zárate Arellano |
| In office 15 August 1993 – 13 February 1997 | |
| President | Juan Carlos Wasmosy |
| Preceded by | Horacio Galeano Perrone |
| Succeeded by | Vicente Sarubbi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Óscar Nicanor Duarte Frutos 11 October 1956 Coronel Oviedo, Paraguay |
| Political party | Colorado Party |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 6 |
| Alma mater | Universidad Católica de Asunción Universidad Nacional de Asunción |
| Occupation |
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| Signature | |
| Nickname | El tendota |
Born into a lower class rural family, Duarte pursued a career in law and later journalism, becoming a radio sports commentator and columnist. In the 1990s he got into politics, serving in the cabinets of Presidents Juan Carlos Wasmosy and Luis González Macchi, both times as Minister of Education. Duarte became one of the top allies of the Colorado Party politician Luis María Argaña, inheriting his political clout after his assassination in March of 1999. Duarte was elected president in 2003, by a plurality of 37%, taking advantage of a three-way split in the opposition to the incumbent Colorado Party. Inaugurated at 46, Duarte was one of Paraguay's youngest presidents, as well as its first non-Catholic, being a protestant convert.
Duarte's administration was marked by a rejection of the path his country and party had taken in the past decade, turning away from neoliberalism to instead embrace the pink tide and 21st century socialism. Overall, the Paraguayan economy grew during his tenure, mostly as part of a recovery from the crisis of the 1990s. His support of and from Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, as well as his proposal to amend the constitution to allow the reelection of the president, made large parts of the Paraguayan public see him as increasingly authoritarian, leading in part to the defeat of his protégé, Blanca Ovelar, in the 2008 election.
In said 2008 election Duarte was elected senator, but the Senate refused to swear him in, arguing that it would be unconstitutional, this happened again in 2018. After leaving office Duarte served as Ambassador to Argentina from 2013 to 2016, under the presidency of Horacio Cartes. He was later appointed director of the Yacyretá Dam. Like all former presidents, Duarte currently holds the ceremonial and powerless title of Senator for life.