Mario Taracena
| The Honourable Mario Taracena Díaz-Sol | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President of the Congress of Guatemala | |
|
Assumed office 14 January 2016 | |
| Vice President |
Iván Arévalo Felipe Alejos Roberto Castañeda |
| Preceded by | Luis Rabbé |
| Succeeded by | Óscar Chinchilla (Designate) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
6 May 1957 Guatemala City, Guatemala |
| Political party |
Unión del Centro Nacional National Advancement Party National Unity of Hope |
| Alma mater | Rafael Landívar University |
Mario Taracena Díaz-Sol (born 6 May 1957) is a Guatemalan politician. He has been President of the Congress of Guatemala since 14 January 2016. Taracena started his political career in 1984 and since then has served multiple times in the Congress, as well as a term in the Central American Parliament.
Early life
Taracena was born on 6 May 1957 in Guatemala City.[1][2] He grew up in an economically well-off family. Both his father and grandfathers were involved in politics. His father was a founding member of the National Liberation Movement, as an opponent of Miguel Ydígoras Fuentes, he was exiled twice.[3]
Mario Taracena followed a part of his education at the Liceo Guatemala and later obtained a degree at the Faculty of Economics of the Rafael Landívar University.[4]
Political career
Taracena served in the Constituent Assembly of Guatemala between 1984 and 1986 for the Unión del Centro Nacional (UCN).[2] He had been one of the founders of the party in 1983.[3] Taracena was member of the Congress of Guatemala for the UCN from 1986 to 1991, and once again from 1991 to 1993.[2] He left the party after a conflict with Jorge Carpio Nicolle.[3] He was member of the Central American Parliament for the National Advancement Party (PAN) between 1995 and 2000.[2] Taracena was also one of the founders of the PAN in 1989. He left the PAN after a conflict with Rubén Darío Morales.[3] In 2004 Taracena once again obtained a domestic political office when he became member of the Congress for the National Unity of Hope (UNE). He completed his first term for the party in 2008 and a second in 2012.[2] Taracena was reelected in the 2015 elections, obtaining a seat for the National List.[1][4]
On 14 January 2016 Taracena was elected President of the Congress, receiving 120 out of 157 votes. He succeeded Luis Rabbé.[5] Shortly after taking office Taracena stated that his main goal was to obtain reforms to the Ley Orgánica del Organismo Legislativo, so that public confidence in the Congress would be raised after having been lowered due to power abuse and corruption.[6]
Personal life
Taracena is a Catholic.[4] He is married and has three daughters and one son.[4]
References
- 1 2 "Mario Taracena Díaz-Sol" (in Spanish). Congress of Guatemala. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Curriculum Vitae Mario Taracena" (PDF) (in Spanish). Congress of Guatemala. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 Jessica Gramajo (14 January 2016). "Mario Taracena: "Traigo la política en los genes"" (in Spanish). PrensaLibre. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 "15 cosas que no sabías de Mario Taracena, presidente del Congreso" (in Spanish). publinews. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- ↑ "Mario Taracena se convierte en el Presidente del Congreso" (in Spanish). LaRed. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- ↑ Bill Barreto. "Mario Taracena en la ola de la "plazocracia"" (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 February 2016.