Willian Lara
Willian Rafael Lara | |
---|---|
Eduardo Manuitt | |
Succeeded by | Arturo Suárez[1] |
Personal details | |
Born | El Socorro, Venezuela | 28 July 1959
Died | 10 September 2010 | (aged 51)
Political party | Fifth Republic Movement (MVR) (before 2007) United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) (2007-10) |
Spouse | Gisela Toro de Lara |
Profession | Politician |
Willian Lara (28 July 1959 – 10 September 2010) was a
Biography
Lara was born in El Socorro, in Guárico state, in 1959. After studying social communication at the Central University of Venezuela and completing a masters in political science at the Simón Bolívar University, he became a professor at the latter.[2]
He was elected to the National Assembly in 2000 and was its President from 2000 to 2002.
In early 2006 Lara sharply criticized the government's media policy, and was subsequently appointed Minister of Communication and Information, replacing Yuri Pimentel after the latter had been in office only seven months; he was succeeded by Andrés Izarra.[2] He was elected governor of Guárico state in the 2008 regional elections.
On 10 September 2010 at 4:30 in the afternoon, under a heavy rain, Willian Lara disappeared after being involved in a traffic accident near the edge of the river Paya in Guárico State. The car, driven by himself, landed in the river. His chauffeur, who was in the co-pilot seat, although injured, survived and was rushed to the hospital. He later said that Lara had gotten out of the vehicle by his own means but he saw Lara's body being taken away by the river's current.[3] Lara's body was found several hours later.[4]
At his funeral, president Hugo Chávez said that "Lara will be remembered as one of the founders of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela", (full name of the country since the new Constitution was approved in 2000).[citation needed]
References
- ^ Últimas Noticias, 11 september 2010, (in Spanish) Legislador Arturo Suárez reemplazará a Willian Lara
- ^ a b c d e f El Revolucionario, 20 December 2006, (in Spanish) William Lara anuncia formalmente la disolución del Movimiento Quinta República
- ^ El Universal, 10 September 2010, (in Spanish) Willian Lara desaparecido tras sufrir accidente de tránsito
- ^ El Universal, 11 September 2010, (in Spanish) Localizan cuerpo de Willian Lara