Francia Márquez

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Márquez and the second or maternal family name is Mina.

Francia Márquez
Francia Marquez Oct2022.jpg
13th Vice President of Colombia
Assumed office
7 August 2022
PresidentGustavo Petro
Preceded byMarta Lucía Ramírez
Personal details
Born
Francia Elena Márquez Mina

(1981-12-01) 1 December 1981 (age 42)
Yolombó, Cauca, Colombia
Political partySoy Porque Somos[1]
Other political
affiliations		Historic Pact for Colombia
Children2
EducationSantiago de Cali University
Websitefranciamarquezmina.com

Francia Elena Márquez Mina (born 1 December 1981)[2] is a Colombian human-rights and environmental activist and lawyer, who is the 13th and current Vice President of Colombia. She was born in Yolombó,[a] a village in the Cauca Department.[2] She first became an activist at 13, when construction of a dam threatened her community.[3] After taking office, she became the first Afro-Colombian vice president in the country's history. She is also the second woman to hold the post, after Marta Lucía Ramírez.[4] In August 2020, Márquez announced her candidacy in the 2022 Colombian presidential election and sought the nomination for the Historic Pact for Colombia coalition. She was later chosen by the coalition's nominee, Gustavo Petro, to be his running mate.

In 2018, she was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for her work to stop illegal gold mining in her community of La Toma and for her community organising. Márquez led a protest march of 80 women who trekked 560 kilometres (350 miles) to the capital city of Bogotá, and demanded the removal of all illegal miners from their community.[3][5][6] In 2019, the BBC listed Francia Márquez on their 100 Women list for that year.[7]

Personal life

Márquez was born on 1 December 1981, in the village of Yolombó, located in the Suárez municipality of the Cauca department.[8] Her parents are miners, although her mother is also a farmer and midwife. Márquez described her childhood as "marked by spending time at my maternal grandparents' house, another time with my mother and the rest with my paternal grandparents".[9][10] Márquez is an agricultural technician graduate from the National Learning Service of Colombia. In 2020 she obtained a law degree from the University of Santiago de Cali.[11]

Activism

Ovejas river defence

Salvajina hydroelectric dam, Cauca department in 2010

From 1994 to 1997[dubious – discuss] , Márquez participated in the defence of the Ovejas river, a significant water source for her community. Companies such as Unión Fenosa planned to divert the river toward the Salvajina hydroelectric dam. Her community succeeded in preventing the project.[12]

Other companies, such as AngloGold Ashanti, which intended to mine gold in the region, threatening the river's cleanliness, began to invest in the community by building roads and donating school supplies. Márquez recalls that while some appreciated the company's generosity, others were suspicious, stating "others amongst [us] thought that, 'nothing comes for free; they must have an ulterior motive.' And there was already talk of a mining project, so we listened to our elders, and we said 'no' to AngloGold." The company responded by delivering leaflets to residents' homes, threatening eviction.[12][13]

Opposition to illegal mining

Residents of Yolombó, Cauca
Illegal mining in the Cauca department

During the presidencies of Álvaro Uribe and Juan Manuel Santos, the invitation of international mining companies to extract natural resources in Colombia increased. In 2009, Márquez helped lead protests against attempts by the government to evict Afro-Colombians, especially artisanal miners, from ancestral land near the town of La Toma. The interior ministry had granted companies such as AngloGold the right to mine for gold in the area without consulting residents. Márquez, along with members of the community council of La Toma, filed a lawsuit challenging the decision. During this time, several members of the committee received death threats. Paramilitary groups subsequently targeted the community, killing several artisanal miners on the river banks. Márquez prevailed when the constitutional court ruled in her community's favour.[14]

In 2013, Márquez became a legal representative in La Toma. She also took part in the permanent assembly in Cauca, which advocated for the National Land Agency to protect territory. The following year, Márquez's community faced environmental damage from illegal miners drilling boreholes near the Ovejas river, poisoned due to mercury use. Márquez again sought legal action and worked with other community members to combat environmental damage caused by illegal miners. However, in October 2014, Márquez was forced to flee to Cali with her children after receiving threats from paramilitary groups.[15]

March to Bogotá

Facing increased threats from illegal mining, Márquez organised a 350-kilometre long march from Cauca to Bogotá in 2014. The March, which consisted of 80 Afro-Colombian women, saw an increase in attention to illegal mining in Cauca, as well as the social and environmental destruction the community and suffering the illegal mining had caused. The party arrived in Bogotá ten days later and began to protest, demanding an end to the illegal mining.

After protesting for 22 days, Márquez, along with other representatives of La Toma, reached an agreement with the Colombian government. Government officials decided to take action against illegal mining and established a task force in 2015 to deal with the issue, a first in Colombian history. The Colombian security forces then began to remove and disassemble illegal mining machinery, and by the conclusion of 2016, all illegal mining apparatuses were no longer present in La Toma. Márquez's efforts and later successes earned her praise internationally and helped inspire other communities in the region to combat illegal mining. As a result of her efforts, Márquez was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2018.[3][7]

Colombian peace process

See also: Colombian peace process
Márquez at the peace negotiations in 2016

In December 2014, Márquez travelled to Havana, Cuba, to participate in the peace negotiations between the administration of president Juan Manuel Santos and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).[16] Whilst there, Márquez highlighted how the conflict had disproportionately affected Afro-Colombians and particularly black women. She also emphasised that ethnic minority groups needed to take part in the peace dialogue to ensure the preservation of lasting peace and stability.[17]

In June 2020, Márquez was elected to the National Peace and Co-existence council, established in May 2017, to monitor compliance with the peace agreement.[18] She served as the council's president in 2021.[19]

2022 presidential election

See also: 2022 Colombian presidential election
Francia is talking in a campaign activity.
Francia Márquez during her presidential campaign in 2022.

Francia Márquez announced her candidacy for the 2022 presidential election in April 2021, during the National Feminist Convention. The Estamos Listas[20] movement and fellow primary candidate Angelá María Robledo offered their support for Marquez's campaign.

In her campaign, she has advocated for women, Afro-Colombians and indigenous communities; who have been largely excluded from Colombian politics.[21]

In December 2021, after her campaign could not collect the necessary signatures to be an independent candidate, the Alternative Democratic Pole party endorsed Márquez's campaign.[22]

In the March 2022 primary elections for the Historic Pact nomination, Márquez reached a historical result of 783,160 votes. This result placed her in second place after Gustavo Petro – with the second-highest vote total out of all the primary candidates.[23]

Vice presidential campaign

Márquez with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in 2022
Márquez met with President of Chile Gabriel Boric in 2022

On 23 March 2022, she accepted the nomination for vice president on the ticket for the Historic Pact, joining Gustavo Petro.[24] Márquez subsequently promised that if elected, she would move the vice president's office from Bogotá to Medellín. Petro announced that if victorious, Márquez's role as vice president would include bolstering equality for ethnic groups and regions facing exclusion.[25] Petro pledged to establish the ministry of equality, which Márquez would lead.[26]

In early May 2022, Márquez accused the United States and the U.S. ambassador to Colombia, Philip Goldberg, of attempting to interfere with the elections. Goldberg responded by expressing concern about "the possible intervention of other countries". Márquez's claim arose after Goldberg alleged that Venezuela and Russia would try to interfere in the elections. She further expressed, "Although he (Goldberg) did not mention the Historical Pact or Gustavo Petro, it is obvious that he was referring to our candidacy and our political bet." Despite this, Márquez assured that if victorious, a potential Petro administration would not cut ties with the United States.[27]

During the campaign, Márquez and Gustavo Petro faced numerous death threats. In one instance, while campaigning, Márquez was targeted by laser beams from a nearby building, prompting security guards to shield her from what appeared to be an assassination attempt. In response to this and many other similar situations, 90 elected officials and prominent individuals from over 20 countries signed an open letter expressing concern and condemnation of attempts of political violence against Márquez and Petro. The letter also highlighted the assassination of over 50 social leaders, trade unionists, environmentalists and other community representatives in 2022. Signatories of the letter included former Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa and American linguist and philosopher Noam Chomsky.[28]

On election day, which occurred on 29 May, Márquez's Historic Pact ticket placed first, advancing to the runoff, since no candidate received over 50% of the vote. Márquez and Petro faced Rodolfo Hernández and Marelen Castillo.[29][30] Shortly after the first round, Márquez and Petro received the endorsement of Luis Gilberto Murillo for the second round. Murillo had been the running of Sergio Fajardo in the Hope Center Coalition, which did not qualify for the runoff.[31][32] Márquez and Petro went on to defeat Hernández and Castillo in the second round held on 19 June.[33] Upon her electoral triumph, Márquez proclaimed that the Petro administration would not "expropriate anyone". She said the most significant challenge she faced whilst on the campaign trail was racist attacks. Márquez's inauguration as vice president occurred on 7 August 2022.[34] On the other hand, due to the approval needed by Congress to establish the ministry of equality, Márquez may not assume the leadership of the proposed department until mid-way through her term as vice president.[35]

Vice Presidency (2022–present)

Márquez was sworn in as vice president on 7 August 2022.[36]

Further reading

Notes

  1. ^ not to be confused with the municipality of Yolombó in the Antioquia department

References

  1. ^ Carolina Rodríguez Mayo (29 July 2021). "'Soy porque somos': La filosofía Ubuntu detrás de la apuesta política de Francia Márquez". Volcánicas (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 17 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b Proenza, Anne (5 June 2018). "D'or et de sang, le combat de Francia Marquez pour les terres des Afro-Colombiens". Le Temps (in French).
  3. ^ a b c "Francia Márquez - Goldman Environmental Foundation". Goldman Environmental Foundation. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  4. ^ Turkewitz, Julie (19 June 2022). "Francia Márquez — a former housekeeper and activist — is Colombia's first Black vice president". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  5. ^ "This Woman Who Saved Her Afro-Colombian Community's Land From Miners Won Prestigious Prize". Remezcla. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  6. ^ Moloney, Anastasia (27 April 2018). "Death threats won't stop Colombian anti-mining activist". reuters.com. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  7. ^ a b "BBC 100 Women 2019: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Soy porque somos" (in Spanish). Francia Márquez Mina. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Hasta los espantos se fueron". Semana Rural (in Spanish). 1 November 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  10. ^ "¿Quién es Francia Márquez de 'Soy porque somos'?" (in Spanish). Revista Diners. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Francia Márquez, la mujer que puso en jaque a la minería ilegal y a las represas en Colombia y acaba de ganar el premio Goldman". BBC Mundo (in Spanish). 25 April 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  12. ^ a b Hugo Mario Cárdenas (25 March 2020). "La Toma: not just a name, but an omen". Tierra de Resistentes. Archived from the original on 26 March 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  13. ^ "Francia Márquez: de desplazada a 'Nobel de medioambiente'". El Tiempo (in Spanish). Cali. 25 April 2018. Archived from the original on 26 April 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  14. ^ Natalia Preito (10 March 2022). "Francia Márquez: historia de un milagro social". Las2Orillas (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  15. ^ "Tras acuerdo con gobierno nacional, líderes afro son amenazados en Cauca". Verdad Abierta (in Spanish). 30 April 2016. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  16. ^ Yefferson Ospina (31 March 2016). "In Havana they are not listening to us: Francia Márquez, Afro-descendant leader of Cauca". El País (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2 October 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  17. ^ "'El conflicto armado también es consecuencia del racismo estructural': Francia Márquez". Periferia (in Spanish). 8 May 2018. Archived from the original on 5 January 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Elegido nuevo comité del Consejo Nacional de Paz" (in Spanish). Government of Colombia. 5 June 2020. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  19. ^ "Biografia". franciamarquezmina.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  20. ^ Gutiérrez, Juliana Gil (22 January 2022). "Estamos Listas se suma a la candidatura de Francia Márquez". www.elcolombiano.com (in European Spanish). Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  21. ^ Martínez, Cruz Bonlarron (15 February 2022). "Francia Márquez Is the Afro-Colombian Activist Who Wants To Change Colombia by Running for President". we are Mitú. 100% American & Latino. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  22. ^ Contreras, Alejandra Cetina (16 December 2021). "Polo Democrático anuncia apoyo a la candidatura presidencial de Francia Márquez". Caracol Radio (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  23. ^ Oquendo, Catalina (15 March 2022). "Francia Márquez, the Colombian electoral phenomenon". EL PAÍS English Edition. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  24. ^ "Es oficial: Francia Márquez será la fórmula vicepresidencial de Gustavo Petro". El Espectador. 2023.
  25. ^ Medina, Oscar (24 March 2022). "Petro Names Afro-Colombian Environmentalist as Running Mate". Yahoo Finance. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  26. ^ "Francia Márquez sería también ministra de la Igualdad en eventual gobierno de Petro". RCTV (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 29 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  27. ^ "Francia Marquez accuses U.S. of intervention in Colombian elections". Radio Havana. Bogotá. 14 May 2022. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  28. ^ Sara Sirota (24 May 2022). "International Political Actors Condemn Mounting Violence in Colombia's Presidential Election". The Intercept. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  29. ^ Astrid Suárez; Regina García (30 May 2022). "Leftist Petro and Right-Wing Hernández Headed for Colombia Election Run Off". Time. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  30. ^ Juan Diego Quesada (30 May 2022). "Gustavo Petro's final battle to become president of Colombia". El País. Bogotá. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  31. ^ "Lo que dijo Luis Gilberto Murillo sobre por qué decidió unirse a la campaña de Gustavo Petro". El País (in Spanish). 31 May 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  32. ^ "Presidential elections 2022" (in Spanish). Registraduria. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  33. ^ Nelson Bocanegra; Oliver Griffin; Carlos Vargas (20 June 2022). "Colombia elects former guerrilla Petro as first leftist president". Reuters. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  34. ^ ""No vamos a expropiar a nadie", dijo Francia Márquez en su primer día como vicepresidenta electa". Semana (in Spanish). 20 June 2022. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  35. ^ Elisa Castrillón Palace; Juan Manuel Flórez Arias (11 July 2022). "ANTE LA DEMORA DE SU MINISTERIO PROPIO, FRANCIA BUSCA UNA CUOTA EN EL MINCIENCIA". La Silla Vacía (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  36. ^ Velasco, Hector (7 August 2022). "Gustavo Petro sworn in as Colombia's first leftist president". AFP (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 7 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.

External links

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Party political offices
New political party Soy Porque Somos nominee for Vice President of Colombia
2022 		Most recent
New political alliance Historic Pact nominee for Vice President of Colombia
2022
Political offices
Preceded by Vice President of Colombia
2022–present 		Incumbent
Order of precedence
Preceded by
First
 First in line
as Vice President 		Succeeded byas President of the Senate
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