Juan Manuel Santos

Juan Manuel Santos was elected president of Colombia on June 20, 2010. He won by a landslide. He was sworn into office on Saturday, August 7, 2010. Santos replaces Álvaro Uribe as president.

Santos has distanced himself from Uribe. Santos intends work on the social need of the country. He also wants to improve relations Colombia's neighbors.

Since winning the presidency in a June 20 landslide, Santos has marked distance between himself and Uribe, signaling the arrival of a leader who, unlike his predecessor, intends to focus on a social agenda and the country's frayed relations with its neighbors. During his inauguration speech, he said

"I will preside over a government of national unity that will bring social prosperity for all Colombians... If we want to have economic and social development, we need to build unity among us."

Santos was schooled in the United States and is familiar with technology. He was a defense minister in the Uribe government.

He is 58 years old, and is from one of the most politically influential families of Colombia.

References

• Forero, Juan (2010-08-08). "Juan Manuel Santos takes oath as Colombia's new president". washingtonpost.com. The Washington Post Company. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/07/AR2010080702709.html. Retrieved 2010-08-13. ""I will preside over a government of national unity that will bring social prosperity for all Colombians,""