Javier Velásquez

Javier Velásquez Quesquén
Prime Minister of Peru
In office
11 July 2009 – 14 September 2010
President Alan García
Preceded by Yehude Simon
Succeeded by José Antonio Chang
Member of Congress
Incumbent
Assumed office
26 July 1995
Constituency Lambayeque
Chairman of the Congress Committee on Supervision and Comptrollership
In office
26 July 2003 – 26 July 2005
President of Congress
In office
26 July 2008 – 11 July 2009
Preceded by Luis Gonzales Posada
Succeeded by Alejandro Aguinaga
Personal details
Born 12 March 1960
Etén  Peru
Political party American Popular Revolutionary Alliance
Spouse(s) Jenny Obando Popuche
Alma mater Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Profession Lawyer

Ángel Javier Velásquez Quesquén (born 12 March 1960 in Etén, Peru) is a Peruvian politician (APRA). From 2009 to 2010 he was the Prime Minister of Peru. Velásquez is a four-term[1] Congressman representing Lambayeque; he was President of Congress for the 2008–2009 term.

In 1987 Javier Velásquez graduated with a law degree from the National University Pedro Ruiz Gallo. Since 1987 he has been a designate lecturer at the Higher Institute of Technology "República Federal de Alemania" in Chiclayo. From 1991 to 1992 he was head of the public register of the North Eastern region of Marañón. From 1997 to 2003 he additionally studied for a Master of Laws with focus on Constitutional law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. Velásquez was a lecturer (Professor) at the Private University Chiclaya in 2000/2001 and at the University of San Martín de Porres in 2006 and in 2007/2008, teaching constitutional law. Currently he is studying for a Doctor of Laws from the prestigious National University of San Marcos.

Javier Velásquez started his career in the social-democratic Aprista Party becoming General Secretary of the Executive Committee of the party in Lambayeque Region in 1992 serving until 1994. 1995 he was elected to the Congress for his first five-year term, being re-elected in 2001, 2006 and 2011. From 1999 to 2004 he was Vice-president of the Political Commission on the national level of APRA. In June 2004 he chaired the organising committee for the XXII National Congress of the party, at which he was elected to the national Political Steering Committee. Since March 2010 he is chairman of the political steering committee.

On 11 July 2009, President Alan García named him as prime minister during the controversy surrounding indigenous clashes with the government when 34 people died.[2] He was sworn-in at 8:00 pm on 12 July 2009. The appointment of Velásquez, considered a party loyalist, was seen by pundits as an attempt by García to tighten his grip on power for his final term. It is considered a reversal after appointing the leftist Yehude Simon, Velásquez's predecessor.[3] Velásquez is the third person to hold the office in nine months.[4] Garcia, whose approval rating was 21 percent,[2] also replaced the ministers of defense, justice, agriculture and the interior.[5]

Velásquez is considered a governing party insider and served in Congress for 14 years.[4][6] He is thought to be an adept negotiator.[2]

References

Wikinews has related news: Javier Velásquez named as Peru’s new Prime Minister
  1. ↑ Emery, Alex (July 11, 2009). "Peru’s Garcia Names New Cabinet Chief After June Protests". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Aquino, Marco (July 11, 2009). "Peru's Garcia to name party insider prime minister". Reuters (Thompson Reuters). Retrieved 2009-07-11.
  3. ↑ AFP (July 11, 2009). "Peru names new prime minister". AFP (Google). Retrieved 2009-07-11.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Briceno, Franklin (The Associated Press) (July 11, 2009). "Peru's leader shakes up his Cabinet amid protests". The Associated Press (Google). Retrieved 2009-07-11.
  5. ↑ Aquino, Marco and Wade, Terry (July 11, 2009). "Peru's Garcia names party insider prime minister". Boston.com (Reuters via The New York Times Company). Retrieved 2009-07-11.
  6. ↑ Collyns, Dan (July 12, 2009). "Peru president reshuffles cabinet". BBC News. Retrieved 2009-07-11.

External links

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Political offices
Preceded by
Luis Gonzales Posada		 President of the Congress of Peru
2008–2009 		Succeeded by
Luis Alva Castro
Preceded by
Yehude Simon		 Prime Minister of Peru
2009–2010 		Succeeded by
José Antonio Chang