Armando Benedetti

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Armando Benedetti Villaneda
In office
July 20, 2006 – July 20, 2010
Born August 29, 1962 (1962-08-29) (age 45)
Bogotá
Colombia
Political party Social National Unity
Residence Bogotá
Occupation journalist, politician

Armando Alberto Benedetti Villaneda (born August 29, 1962 in Barranquilla, Atlantico) is a Colombian politician and journalist. Benedetti-Villaneda is a current senator in the Congress of Colombia for the 2006-2010 term, representing the Social National Unity Party that supports President Alvaro Uribe.

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[edit] Early life

Benedetti-Villaneda was born in the Caribbean Region of Colombia in the city of Barranquilla. His father is former minister Armando Benedetti. He studied communications at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá and later did post graduate studies in journalism. Between 1990 and part of 1991 he worked as a reporter for the national TV news show QAP Noticias.

[edit] Political career

He began working for liberal politician Eduardo Verano De la Rosa in 1991 as advisor during the Constituent Assembly of Colombia which developed and approved the Colombian Constitution of 1991. In 1991 he also worked for Ministry of Economic Development as specialized professional. He also worked for the Intra the now disappeared National highway institute for which he was appointed Secretary General of Public establishments between 1992 and 1993. Worked then for Ecosalud (former Etesa) in 1996 as Commercial Vice-President until 1997.

[edit] Councilman of Bogotá

With only 29 years old Benedetti-Villaneda was elected for the City Council of Bogotá, one of the youngest councilmen to ever serve. He was assigned as First Vice-President of the District Cabildo and as President of the Permanent First Commission of the Development Plan, which developed the "Territorial Order Plan for Bogotá" during the mayorship of Enrique Peñalosa.

During the administration of Penalosa, Benedetti denounced over costs on public works such as the construction of bollards and proposed numerous projects including Project 25 of 1998 which established educational workshops in all the capital district educational institutions to prevent alcoholism, smoking and drug addiction.

[edit] Chamber of Representatives (1998-2006)

Benedetti decided to run for a seat in the Congress of Colombia, in the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia for the legislative elections of 1998 to represent Bogotá. He was reelected in the legislative elections of 2002 also for the period 2002-2006. During his term he promoted the referendum, the anti-terrorism statute, the military vote, the presidential reelection, the Law of Truth, Justice and Reparation for demobilized illegal combatants in the Colombian armed conflict, among other parliamentary work.

[edit] Senator of Colombia (2006-2010)

Benedetti decided to join the Social National Unity Party which is one of the main parties supporting Alvaro Uribe. In the legislative elections of 2006 Benedetti ran for a seat on the senate and resulted elected.

In April 2008, a judicial process was initiated against him as a part of the investigation of ties between paramilitary organizations and important Colombian politicians. Senator Benedetti has denied any possible link with the terrorist group, whereas members of it have claimed to have evidence of such links.

[edit] External links

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