| Carlos Flores | |
|---|---|
| President of Honduras | |
| In office 27 January 1998 – 27 January 2002 |
|
| Preceded by | Carlos Roberto Reina |
| Succeeded by | Ricardo Maduro |
| President of the National Congress | |
| In office 25 January 1994 – 25 January 1998 |
|
| Preceded by | Rodolfo Irías Navas |
| Succeeded by | Rafael Pineda Ponce |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 March 1950 Tegucigalpa, Honduras |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Honduras |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Flake |
| Occupation | Politician, Businessman |
| Religion | Catholic |
Carlos Roberto Flores Facussé (born 10 March 1950) was President of Honduras from 27 January 1998 to 27 January 2002 and President of the National Congress from 25 January 1994 to 25 January 1998.
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Flores Facussé is the son of Honduran journalist Oscar Flores Midence and Margarita Facussé de Flores, and is of Palestinian descent. His brother and sister, Oscar Flores and Celsa Flores, an artist, as well as himself attended the American School of Tegucigalpa. Mr. Flores furthered his education at Louisiana State University (LSU), where he graduated with a degree in industrial engineering. He also became a member of Phi Iota Alpha.[1] He later completed a masters degree in International Economics and Finance at the same institution. He met his future wife, Mary Flake, while at LSU.
Soon after, he returned to Honduras where he began managing the family business (La Tribuna) and participating in private and public committees, including the Honduran Central Bank and the Institute of Social Security. During the 1970s, Flores became involved in Honduran political life, joining the Liberal Party. He later became a congressman, representing the department (political division equivalent to a province) of Francisco Morazán. He served as Minister of the Presidency under the rule of Liberal president Roberto Suazo from 1982 to 1984. During his tenure as president of Honduras, Hurricane Mitch destroyed the country's infrastructure and left tremendous devastation in its wake.
In 1988 he ran for the presidency, eventually losing to his rival, Rafael Leonardo Callejas, the opposing candidate of the National Party.
In 1994, Flores became president of the National Congress, and only four years later won the presidency after competing with Nora Melgar Castro, opposing candidate of the National Party. He became president of Honduras from 1998-2002.
During Carlos Flores' presidency, Honduras was struck by Hurricane Mitch, one of the worst natural disasters in decades. It caused thousands of deaths and left the national economy in shambles.
President Flores engaged in soliciting international aid from several financial institutions and countries. The response was strong, and funds were directed at reinforcing Honduras' infrastructure, and the agricultural and industrial economic sectors.
As recommended by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, Flores imposed strict financial guidelines: deflationary monetary fund policies, fiscal austerity, and privatization of the airports and the national communications company Hondutel; the latter with mixed outcome.
He also limited the power held by the military forces, forcing this institution to relinquish some power to the presidency.
On 26 August 1998, Flores instituted the Ministry of Public Security under the provisions of the National Plan to combat crime and criminality. This was a response to the ominous growth of violent gangs, particularly the Mara Salvatrucha. This in turn served to further embolden the gangs.
Government initiatives in this area did not produce significant results, and completely ignored murderous activity in the country, particularly the actions of a series of armed death squads that extrajudicially killed homeless children and adolescents living in the margins of society.[2]
Members of the Police, private security guards and civil defense committees organized by local authorities were involved in what was crudely called social cleansing operations.
Reports from Human Rights Commission United Nations, the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras (CODEH) and other NGOs indicate that the casualties caused by such violence on children barely improved during the four years of Flores Presidency.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Carlos Roberto Reina |
President of Honduras 1998-2002 |
Succeeded by Ricardo Maduro |
| Preceded by Rodolfo Irás Navas |
President of the National Congress of Honduras 1994-1998 |
Succeeded by Rafael Pineda Ponce |
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