Álvaro Uribe

Álvaro Uribe Vélez
Born	Álvaro Uribe Vélez 4 7, 1952
Birthplace	Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
Nationality	Colombian
Occupation	Politician, lawyer
Known for	32nd President of Colombia, founder of the Democratic Center party
Education	University of Antioquia
Children	2
Awards	Medal of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay (2003)

Álvaro Uribe Vélez (born 4 July 1952) is a Colombian politician and lawyer who served as the 32nd President of Colombia from 7 August 2002 to 7 August 2010. A dominant figure in Colombian politics for more than two decades, Uribe rose through a succession of public offices in his home department of Antioquia before winning the presidency on a platform centered on security and an uncompromising military offensive against leftist guerrilla groups, most notably the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the ELN. His two terms in office were defined by the escalation of military operations carried out with substantial United States financial support under Plan Colombia, as well as by a controversial demobilization process involving right-wing paramilitary forces. After leaving the presidency, Uribe founded the right-wing Democratic Center party in 2013 and returned to the Colombian Senate in 2014, where he became one of the most vocal critics of the peace process between his successor, Juan Manuel Santos, and the FARC. In July 2025, Uribe became the first former president of Colombia to be convicted of criminal charges — specifically bribery and procedural fraud — in what Colombian media termed the "trial of the century." That conviction was subsequently overturned by an appeals court in October 2025.

Early Life

Álvaro Uribe Vélez was born on 4 July 1952 in Medellín, the capital of the department of Antioquia, Colombia. He grew up in the Antioquia region, a politically and economically significant area of Colombia known for its agricultural and commercial traditions. Uribe's father, Alberto Uribe Sierra, was a rancher; his death at the hands of FARC guerrillas during a kidnapping attempt in 1983 is frequently cited as a formative event in Uribe's political outlook and his later hardline stance against the guerrilla movement.

Uribe entered public life at a young age, beginning his career in the institutions of his home department. The political culture of Antioquia, marked by strong regional identity and a tradition of both Liberal and Conservative political engagement, shaped his early trajectory. He initially aligned himself with the Colombian Liberal Party, the party through which he would hold his first public offices.

Education

Uribe studied law at the University of Antioquia in Medellín, one of the most prominent public universities in Colombia. He later pursued graduate studies, including coursework at Harvard University in the United States, which contributed to his connections with international policy circles. His legal training informed his subsequent career in public administration and politics.

Career

Early Political Career in Antioquia

Uribe's political career began in earnest in his home department of Antioquia. He held positions in the Public Enterprises of Medellín (Empresas Públicas de Medellín), one of the city's most important public utilities companies, and at the Colombian Ministry of Labor. Between 1980 and 1982, he served as director of the Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics (Aeronáutica Civil), the agency responsible for civil aviation regulation in Colombia.

In October 1982, Uribe was appointed Mayor of Medellín, serving until December of that year. His appointment was made by Governor Álvaro Villegas Moreno. Although his tenure as mayor was brief, it marked his entry into executive government and raised his profile within Antioquia's political establishment.

Senate and Governorship

Uribe served as a senator of Colombia from 20 July 1986 to 20 July 1994, representing the Colombian Liberal Party. During his time in the Senate, he participated in legislative debates on security, economic liberalization, and administrative reform. His eight years in the upper chamber of Congress gave him a national platform and connections across the Colombian political spectrum.

Following his Senate tenure, Uribe was elected Governor of Antioquia, serving from 1 January 1995 to 1 January 1998. He succeeded Ramiro Valencia and was in turn succeeded by Alberto Builes Ortega. As governor, Uribe focused on security issues and local governance in a department that was severely affected by the armed conflict between the Colombian state, guerrilla groups, and paramilitary organizations. His governorship is considered a key stepping stone toward the presidency, as it allowed him to develop and test policies that he would later implement on a national scale.

Presidency (2002–2010)

Election of 2002

Uribe ran for the presidency in 2002 under the banner of the Colombia First (Primero Colombia) movement, having broken with the mainstream Liberal Party. He campaigned on a platform of "democratic security" (seguridad democrática), promising a decisive military response to the guerrilla insurgency and a restoration of state authority throughout the national territory. His message resonated with a Colombian electorate exhausted by years of escalating violence and the perceived failure of the peace process attempted by his predecessor, Andrés Pastrana Arango. Uribe won the presidential election in the first round, a significant achievement in Colombian politics.

Democratic Security Policy

Upon taking office on 7 August 2002, with Francisco Santos Calderón as his vice president, Uribe launched an extensive military offensive against the FARC and the ELN. This campaign was carried out with significant financial and logistical support from the United States, principally through the US$2.8 billion aid package known as Plan Colombia, which had been initiated under the Clinton administration and continued under President George W. Bush. The military strategy involved a major increase in troop deployments, aerial fumigation of coca crops, and targeted operations against guerrilla leadership.

Uribe's security policies led to a measurable reduction in guerrilla attacks, kidnappings, and homicides in several regions of the country. Supporters credited the seguridad democrática policy with restoring a degree of normalcy to areas that had been under guerrilla influence for decades. The government presented statistics showing improvements in road safety and declines in certain categories of violent crime.

Paramilitary Demobilization and the Justice and Peace Law

A defining and controversial element of Uribe's presidency was his engagement with the right-wing paramilitary umbrella organization known as the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC). Uribe initiated a demobilization process aimed at disarming and reintegrating paramilitary fighters into civilian life. This process was formalized through the Justice and Peace Law (Ley de Justicia y Paz), Law 975 of 2005, which provided reduced sentences for paramilitary members who confessed their crimes and contributed to truth and reparation for victims.

The demobilization process drew scrutiny from human rights organizations and international observers. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights published reports documenting ongoing human rights concerns in Colombia during Uribe's presidency, including extrajudicial killings, forced displacement, and the continued activities of paramilitary successor groups.

"False Positives" Scandal

One of the most serious controversies during Uribe's tenure was the so-called "false positives" (falsos positivos) scandal. Members of the Colombian army killed thousands of civilians and subsequently dressed them in guerrilla uniforms or planted weapons on their bodies in order to inflate combat kill statistics. The defense minister during much of Uribe's presidency was Juan Manuel Santos, who later succeeded Uribe as president. The scandal provoked national and international outrage and led to criminal investigations, including inquiries by the United Nations. The full scope of the killings continued to be investigated long after Uribe left office.

Reelection

In 2006, following a constitutional amendment that permitted presidential reelection for the first time in modern Colombian history, Uribe was reelected to a second term. He continued his security and economic policies through his second administration, which lasted until 7 August 2010, when he was succeeded by Juan Manuel Santos.

Foreign Relations

Uribe maintained close relations with the United States throughout his presidency, with Plan Colombia serving as the centerpiece of the bilateral security relationship. He also engaged in regional diplomacy, though his tenure was marked by tensions with neighboring Venezuela and Ecuador, particularly regarding cross-border guerrilla activity. Uribe received international recognition, including the Medal of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay in 2003.

The Organization of American States sent election observation missions for Colombian elections held during Uribe's administration.

Post-Presidency

Founding of the Democratic Center

After leaving office in 2010, Uribe initially aligned with the Social Party of National Unity (Partido de la U) before breaking with the party and founding the Democratic Center (Centro Democrático) in 2013. The new party was established as a right-wing political movement opposed to what Uribe and his allies characterized as concessions to the FARC in the peace negotiations being conducted by President Santos. The Democratic Center contested the 2014 national elections and quickly became one of the most significant political forces in Colombia.

Return to the Senate

Uribe was elected to the Colombian Senate in the 2014 parliamentary elections and took office on 20 July 2014. From his Senate seat, he became one of the most prominent critics of the peace agreement between the Santos government and the FARC, which was finalized in 2016. Uribe argued that the accord offered excessive leniency to guerrilla leaders responsible for serious crimes and undermined the rule of law. He played a central role in the campaign for the "No" vote in the 2016 plebiscite on the peace deal, which narrowly prevailed before a revised agreement was reached.

UN Panel on Gaza Flotilla Raid

In August 2010, shortly after leaving the presidency, Uribe was appointed vice-chairman of the United Nations panel tasked with investigating the Gaza flotilla raid, the May 2010 Israeli military operation against a flotilla of ships attempting to breach the naval blockade of Gaza. His appointment reflected his international profile but also drew commentary given Colombia's limited direct involvement in Middle Eastern affairs.

Legal Proceedings

Supreme Court Investigation and Arrest Order

In August 2020, the Supreme Court of Justice of Colombia ordered Uribe's arrest as part of an investigation into allegations of bribery and witness tampering. The case centered on accusations that Uribe had attempted to manipulate witnesses in a legal dispute with Senator Iván Cepeda, who had publicly accused Uribe of ties to paramilitary organizations. Following the arrest order, Uribe resigned from his Senate seat on 18 August 2020, a move that transferred jurisdiction over his case from the Supreme Court to the Attorney General's office (Fiscalía General de la Nación).

Conviction in July 2025

On 28 July 2025, Uribe was found guilty of bribery and procedural fraud, becoming the first former president of Colombia to be convicted of criminal charges. The case, widely described in Colombian and international media as the "trial of the century," gripped the nation and had profound implications for the country's political landscape. On 1 August 2025, Uribe was sentenced to 12 years of house arrest.

The National Security Archive in Washington, D.C. noted that the conviction was a historic milestone in Colombian judicial history and described Uribe as the most powerful political leader in recent Colombian history.

Appeals Court Reversal

In October 2025, an appeals court overturned Uribe's conviction for bribery and witness tampering. The International Center for Transitional Justice reported on the reversal, noting its significance for Colombia's legal and political trajectory. The Guardian reported that the case had "gripped the nation and soured [the] conservative strongman's legacy."

Personal Life

Álvaro Uribe Vélez has two children. He has maintained a relatively private family life despite his high public profile. His father, Alberto Uribe Sierra, was killed during a FARC kidnapping attempt in 1983, an event that Uribe has referenced as shaping his approach to the Colombian armed conflict and his commitment to combating guerrilla groups.

Uribe is known for his ranching background and has maintained ties to the rural economy of Antioquia throughout his career. He initially belonged to the Colombian Liberal Party before transitioning through the Colombia First movement, the Social Party of National Unity, and ultimately founding the Democratic Center in 2013.

Recognition

During and after his presidency, Uribe received a number of honors and distinctions. He was awarded the Medal of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay in 2003 in recognition of his leadership and bilateral relations between Colombia and Uruguay.

Uribe also received recognition from international organizations. The American Jewish Committee acknowledged his stance on security issues and international cooperation.

His presidency attracted significant attention from international media and policy institutions. He was appointed to the United Nations panel investigating the Gaza flotilla raid in 2010, reflecting his international standing at the time. At the same time, Uribe's record has been subject to sustained criticism from human rights organizations, political opponents, and some international observers, particularly concerning his administration's relationship with paramilitary forces and the "false positives" scandal.

Legacy

Álvaro Uribe's legacy in Colombian politics is complex and contested. El País described him as a figure who enjoyed immense popularity during his presidency, noting that between 2002 and 2010, his approval ratings were a common topic of conversation among Colombians. The same outlet described him as possessing "a thousand political lives," referencing his repeated ability to survive political and legal crises throughout his career.

The New York Times described Uribe as "Colombia's conservative former president who shaped the country's politics more than anyone over the past 25 years." His seguridad democrática policy fundamentally altered the trajectory of the Colombian armed conflict by weakening the FARC militarily and restoring state presence to areas previously controlled by guerrilla groups. These achievements, however, were accompanied by serious human rights concerns, including the false positives scandal that resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians at the hands of the Colombian military.

The Democratic Center party that Uribe founded has remained a significant force in Colombian politics, representing the right wing of the political spectrum and serving as the principal opposition to the peace process and to the government of President Gustavo Petro, elected in 2022. Uribe's influence on the party and on the broader Colombian right continues to be substantial.

His legal proceedings — the 2025 conviction, sentencing to 12 years of house arrest, and subsequent acquittal on appeal — represent an unprecedented chapter in Colombian presidential history and have raised fundamental questions about accountability, judicial independence, and the relationship between political power and the rule of law in the country.