Horacio Cartes | |
---|---|
President of the Colorado Party | |
Assumed office 10 January 2023 | |
Leader | Mario Abdo Benítez (Jan–Aug 2023) Santiago Peña (Aug 2023–present) |
Preceded by | Pedro Alliana |
50th President of Paraguay | |
In office 15 August 2013 – 15 August 2018 | |
Vice President | Juan Afara (Aug 2013–Apr 2018) None (Apr–May 2018) Alicia Pucheta (May–Aug 2018) |
Preceded by | Federico Franco |
Succeeded by | Mario Abdo Benítez |
Personal details | |
Born | Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara 5 July 1956 Asunción, Paraguay |
Political party | Colorado (since 2009) |
Spouse | María Montaña (divorced) |
Children | 3 |
Signature | |
Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara (Spanish pronunciation: [oˈɾasjo maˈnwel ˈkaɾtes ˈxaɾa]; born 5 July 1956)[1] is a Paraguayan politician and businessman who is serving as president of the Colorado Party since 2023, having previously served as president of Paraguay from 2013 to 2018.[2][3]
Cartes owned about two dozen businesses in his Grupo Cartes conglomerate until he left the conglomerate in 2023, including tobacco, soft drinks, meat production,[4] and banking. He was president of Club Libertad football club from 2001 until 2012,[5] and president of the national team inside the Paraguayan Football Association during the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification.[4][6] A 2021 affidavit made by Cartes showed that his net worth was $490 million (or ₲3.6 trillion), making him one of Paraguay's most wealthiest people.[7]
Between 2022 and 2023, he was classified as "significantly corrupt" and as a result subsequently subjected to economic sanctions by the United States, which accuses him of involvement in transnational crime and terrorist organizations.[8][9]