Luis Carlos Galán
Colombian politician / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Luis Carlos Galán Sarmiento (29 September 1943 – 18 August 1989) was a Colombian liberal politician and journalist who ran for the Presidency of Colombia on two occasions, the first time for the political movement New Liberalism that he founded in 1979. The movement was an offspring of the mainstream Colombian Liberal Party, and with mediation of former Liberal president Julio César Turbay Ayala, Galán returned to the Liberal party in 1989 and sought the nomination for the 1990 presidential election, but was assassinated before the vote took place.
Luis Carlos Galán | |
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![]() Galán in 1988 | |
Senator of Colombia | |
In office 20 July 1978 – 20 July 1989 | |
Colombian Ambassador to Italy | |
In office 1972–1975 | |
President | Misael Pastrana Borrero |
Preceded by | Antonio Álvarez Restrepo |
Succeeded by | Jaime Castro Castro |
Minister of National Education | |
In office 7 August 1970 – 4 May 1972 | |
President | Misael Pastrana Borrero |
Preceded by | Octavio Arizmendi Posada |
Succeeded by | Juan Jacobo Muñoz |
Personal details | |
Born | Luis Carlos Galán Sarmiento (1943-09-29)29 September 1943 Charalá, Santander, Colombia |
Died | 18 August 1989(1989-08-18) (aged 45) Soacha, Cundinamarca, Colombia |
Manner of death | Assassination |
Resting place | Central Cemetery of Bogotá |
Political party | Liberal |
Other political affiliations | New Liberalism (1979–1987) |
Spouse | Gloria Pachón Castro (1971–1989) |
Relations | Alfonso Valdivieso Sarmiento (cousin) |
Children | 4, including Juan Manuel Galán Pachón |
Alma mater | Pontifical Xavierian University |
Profession | Journalist |
Galán declared himself an enemy of the drug cartels and the influence of the mafia in Colombian politics, in this case the main drug cartel being the Medellin Cartel led by Pablo Escobar and who unsuccessfully tried to become a member of the New Liberalism Movement in his bid to become a member of the Colombian House of Representatives. Galán denounced Pablo Escobar in a public rally, and supported the extradition treaty with the U.S, contrary to the wishes of the Colombian cartels that feared extradition to the U.S.
After receiving several death threats, on 18 August 1989, Galán was shot and killed by hitmen hired by the drug cartels of Pablo Escobar during a campaign rally in the town of Soacha, Cundinamarca. At the time, he was comfortably leading the polls with 60 percent favourable ratings for the forthcoming 1990 presidential election. While the investigation into his assassination remains unsolved, Galan's assassination was a crucial factor in the downfall of the Medellin Cartel a few years later.