Gustavo Bell
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| Gustavo Bell Lemus | |
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| In office August 7, 1998 – August 7, 2002 |
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| President | Andres Pastrana |
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| Preceded by | Carlos Lemos Simmonds |
| Succeeded by | Francisco Santos Calderón |
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| Born | February 01, 1957 (age 50) Barranquilla  Colombia |
| Political party | Colombian Conservative Party |
| Spouse | Maria Mercedes De La Espriella |
Gustavo Adolfo Bell Lemus Born February 1st, 1957 in Barranquilla, Atlantico is a Colombian historian, journalist, lawyer and politician. Bell served as Vice President of Colombia from August 7, 1998 to August 7, 2002 after being elected as runner up for President Andres Pastrana.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Education and Journalism
Bell was born in Barranquilla were he spent his childhood. He moved to the city of Bogotá to study Law at the Pontifical Xavierian University and the University of the Andes. He then moved to Spain where he studied at the Sevilla Latin American Academy. Between 1995 and 1997, attended graduate studies at the University of Oxford to obtain a Ph.D.
Bell was one of the founders of the Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla, university in which he also gave classes. Began his work as journalist in the newspaper El Heraldo in which he consolidated himself as one of the most influential journalist in northern Colombia.
[edit] Governor of the Atlantico
In 1991 Bell run for governor of the Atlantico Department as an independent candidate, he became the first elected governor by popular vote of this Department for the period between 1992-1994. (governors in Colombia were appointed by the President before the constitution of 1991)
[edit] Vice President of Colombia
After spending three years studying in England Bell returned to Colombia in 1997 and joined the presidential campaign of Andres Pastrana. Pastrana offered him the Vice Presidency of Colombia, They were elected for the 1998-2002 presidential period.
Vice President Bell's was in charge of the Colombian Office for Human Rights issues between 1998 and 2001, year in which President Pastrana also appointed him the Ministry of National Defense. After finishing his term as Vice President Bell retired from politics.
[edit] Assassination attempt
While being a director of the El Heraldo newspaper Bell was victim of an assassination attempt but escaped.[1]
[edit] Family
Bell is married to Maria Mercedes De La Espriella and has one daughter named María Alexandra.[2]
