Iván Duque

Iván Duque was a leader in Colombia. He was the president for four years.

He helped many people move to his land. These people came from Venezuela. He gave them schools and doctors.

He also led during a big sickness. This sickness was called COVID-19. He spoke on TV to help people.

Some people in his land were unhappy. They held large protests to show this. They wanted things to be fairer.

After his time ended, a new leader took over.

He led his country through many changes.

Iván Duque was a lawyer and a leader. He served as the president of Colombia from 2018 to 2022. Before he was president, he was a senator. He helped make laws for his country. One law gave new mothers more time with their babies. Another law helped families pay for college.

As president, Duque faced many big tasks. He helped people fleeing from Venezuela. He let around 1.7 million refugees stay in Colombia. He gave them help with school and health care.

He also led during the COVID-19 pandemic. He used a TV show to talk to people.

Some things were very hard during his time. There were many protests in the streets. People were unhappy about taxes and how the country was run. There was also much violence in some areas. This made many people feel unsafe. In 2022, his term ended. A new leader named Gustavo Petro took his place.

Iván Duque Márquez is a Colombian lawyer and politician. He served as the president of Colombia from 2018 to 2022. Before becoming president, he was a member of the Senate. He worked to create several important laws for his country. One law increased maternity leave from 14 to 18 weeks for mothers. Another law made sure defibrillators were available in busy public places. He also helped create a law called the "Orange Law" to protect creative industries.

Duque's path to the presidency started with his political party. He belonged to the Democratic Centre Party. This party was led by Álvaro Uribe, a former president.

In 2018, Duque ran for president against several other people. He first won his party's nomination with 29.47% favorability. Later, he won a primary election with more than 4 million votes. In the final election, he defeated Gustavo Petro with 54% of the vote. He was sworn in as president on 7 August 2018.

During his time in office, Duque dealt with many big issues. He helped many people fleeing from the Venezuelan refugee crisis. His government allowed around 1.7 million refugees to get protected status. He also provided them with help for school and health care. However, his term also saw the difficult COVID-19 pandemic. He started a daily television program to talk to citizens about the virus. This program helped people get news at 6pm every day.

Not everything during his presidency was easy for the country. Many people held large protests in the streets. Some protests happened in 2019 and 2020 because of concerns about corruption. Other protests happened in 2021 because of a new tax plan. These events made his approval rating drop quite low. By his last year in office, his approval was around 30%. There was also a lot of violence in some parts of Colombia. Many social leaders and former fighters were killed during these years.

Duque's presidency ended on 7 August 2022. He was succeeded by Gustavo Petro, who won the 2022 election.

Throughout his career, Duque has traveled to meet many world leaders. He has met with leaders from the United States and Israel. His life shows how one person can lead a nation through many changes. He remains a significant figure in the history of Colombia. His work on laws and refugee help is still remembered today.

Iván Duque Márquez is a Colombian lawyer and politician. He served as the president of Colombia from 2018 to 2022. His presidency was defined by complex social challenges and economic shifts. He represented the Democratic Centre Party during his time in office. This party was led by the influential former president Álvaro Uribe. Duque's leadership involved managing large-scale migration and a global health crisis. His administration also faced significant domestic protests and debates over peace processes.

Duque's professional journey began with extensive legal and international training. He earned a law degree from Sergio Arboleda University in 2000. Later, he studied international economic law at American University. He also completed a Masters in Public Policy Management at Georgetown University.

Before his presidency, he worked for several major organizations. He served as a consultant for the Development Bank of Latin America. He also acted as a representative for Colombia at the Inter-American Development Bank. These roles provided him with experience in international finance and policy.

In 2014, Duque entered the Colombian Senate through the Democratic Centre Party. This party formed after a split from the ruling party. The split happened because of peace negotiations with the FARC guerrilla group. As a senator, Duque authored several significant pieces of legislation. He passed Law 1822 to increase maternity leave to 18 weeks. Law 1831 required defibrillators to be available in busy public places. He also introduced the "Orange Law" to protect creative industries.

Duque's path to the presidency involved several competitive election stages. He first won his party's nomination in December 2017. He secured a 29.47% favorability rating among the candidates. In March 2018, he won a primary election with over 4 million votes. This victory allowed him to select Marta Lucía Ramírez as his running mate. In the final 2018 election, Duque won the second round with 54% of the vote. He defeated his opponent, Gustavo Petro, who received 42%.

During his term, Duque managed the Venezuelan refugee crisis with an open-door policy. He provided aid, schooling, and healthcare to those fleeing Venezuela. Approximately 1.7 million refugees gained protected status under his administration. In 2018, he dedicated 0.5% of government spending to support these refugees. This amount represented about 20% of the country's budget shortfall. His approach earned praise from various international humanitarian organizations.

However, his presidency also faced severe domestic and economic difficulties. The COVID-19 pandemic caused Colombia's GDP to drop by 6.8% in 2020. This was the largest economic decline in the nation's history. Duque launched the "Prevention and Action" television program to communicate pandemic measures. While initially popular, the program eventually faced strong criticism. His government also dealt with large-scale protests in 2019 and 2021. These demonstrations were driven by concerns over corruption, inequality, and new tax measures.

Public safety and the war on drugs were also major concerns. Duque made fighting drug production a central part of his presidency. Despite these efforts, cocaine production reached record highs during his term. In 2022, the UN estimated a potential output of 1,400 metric tons. The period was also marked by increased violence against social leaders. Between 2018 and 2022, 930 social leaders were assassinated. Additionally, over 260 massacres occurred, resulting in more than 1,100 deaths.

Duque's term ended on 7 August 2022. He was succeeded by Gustavo Petro following the 2022 presidential election. Throughout his career, Duque maintained connections with many global leaders. He met with presidents from the United States, Argentina, and Israel. His presidency remains a significant chapter in Colombia's modern political history. It illustrates the challenges of leading a nation through migration, pandemics, and social change.