Carlos Roberto Flores

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For the football manager, see Carlos Flores (football manager).

Carlos Flores with United States President Bill Clinton

Carlos Roberto Flores Facussé (b. 10 March 1950) was President of Honduras from January 27, 1998 to January 27, 2002.

[edit] Biography

He is son to Honduran journalist Oscar Flores Midence and Margarita Facussé de Flores from Palestinian origin. Mr. Flores has a sister, the artist, Celsa Flores, and both attended the American School in Tegucigalpa, where he enjoyed riding his white Arab stallion, Plata, on El Hatillo in the mountains above the city. Mr. Flores furthered his education at Louisiana State University (LSU), where he was a member of Phi Iota Alpha.^[1] He graduated with a degree in industrial engineering. He later completed a masters degree in International Economics and Finance at the same institution. While at LSU he met his future wife, Mary Flake, who is a native of the southern state.

Soon after, he returned to Honduras where he began managing the family business and participating in private and public committees, such as the Honduran Central Bank and the Institute of Social Security. During the 70's, Flores became part of political life, joining the Liberal Party. He later became a congressman, representing the department (political division equivalent to a province) of Francisco Morazán. He served as Minister of the Presidency under the rule of liberal president Roberto Suazo from 1982 to 1984. In 1988 he ran for the presidency, eventually losing to his rival, Rafael Leonardo Callejas, a candidate of the opposing National Party. In 1994, Flores became president of the Congress, and only four years later won the presidency after competing with Nora Melgar Castro, opposing candidate of the National Party. He became president of Honduras from 1998-2002.

Carlos Flores' presidency was hit by one of the worst natural disasters to have affected Honduras in decades: Hurricane Mitch. Mitch left thousands dead and the national economy in shambles. It is estimated that it will take nearly two decades for Honduras to fully recover from such a severe blow to its feeble economy. After Mitch, president Flores engaged in soliciting international aid from several financial organizations and countries. The response was strong, and funds were directed at reinforcing Honduras' infrastructure, agricultural and industrial economic sectors. Flores also followed strict financial guidelines, imposed by the IMF and World Bank in order to reduce the high [inflation] threatening Honduras' monetary and economic system.

President Flores also limited the power held by the military forces, forcing this institution to relinquish some power to the presidency. In 1998 the Ministry of Security was created for the purpose of combating a rising rate of criminality that had been threatening Honduras' weak social order.