Belisario Betancur Kuartas

Born Feb. 4, 1923. Becoming a politician, he became more and more identified themselves as conservatives, are gradually moving away from the original extreme right positions. In 1950, President Laureano Castro appointed him a member of the Constituent Assembly, but later he was jailed for contradictions with the military government of General Gustav Rojas Pinilly.

. Throughout his political career, Betancourt was a senator, minister of labor, as well as Ambassador to Spain
. May 30, 1982 he was elected president of Colombia. It was his fourth participation in the electoral race for the top job as the candidate of the Social Conservative Party. The first attempt was in 1962, the second when he lost the presidential candidate of the Liberal Party, Misael Pastrana - in 1970, and the third - in 1978, while he too was defeated by Liberal Julio Ayala Turba.

. In 1982 a split in the ranks of the Liberal Party provided the victory of Betancourt, the first victory for the Conservatives since 1974, when over 16-year term agreement on rotation of the Presidency of the candidates the two major parties
. Betancourt had received 47% of the vote against 40% for the liberal candidate, former president of the Michelson.

. Sworn in August 1982, Betancourt in his first study demonstrated a belief in the Colombian system of separation of powers - both parties have received from 6 of ministerial portfolios (the Defense Ministry left in the hands of the army)
. His economic policies helped the private sector. More important, however, were his actions to stop the acts of guerrilla. Betancourt has restored peace commission, flowing under the administration of Ayala, and has initiated steps towards a positive dialogue with the rebel movement. By the end of September 1982 the two main guerrilla groups, M-19 and FARC signed a truce with the government