Name Romeo Velasquez | Role Politician | |
 | ||
Romeo v squez vel squez created with magisto
Romeo Vásquez Velásquez (born 29 January 1957) is a Honduran politician and retired Brigadier general. He was head of the armed forces of Honduras from January 11, 2005 to January 25, 2010. He was born in Siguatepeque, Comayagua. In 1972 he joined the army, and he attended the School of the Americas (SOA/WHINSEC) at least twice, in 1976 and 1984. Romeo Vásques, who also has a degree in economy and finances, is married to Licida Zelaya Lobo, from Olancho, and they have two children. He also has three other children.
Contents
Ch vez insulta a romeo v squez vel squez
2009 Honduran constitutional crisis
He was sacked by President Manuel Zelaya on June 25, 2009, for refusing to allow the armed forces to help in conducting a Honduran fourth ballot box referendum proposed by President Zelaya. Romeo Vásquez stated he had refused to help with the vote which was aimed at removing the constitutional term limit of one term per President because the Supreme Court had ruled the vote illegal. Zelaya has denied the referendum was intended to extend term limits, but in fact was to ask the people if they wanted to add the question of a constitutional assembly to the November ballot. Later the same day, however, five judges of the Supreme Court acted unanimously in favor of a ruling chief of staff, restoring him to office after declaring his removal unconstitutional. The resolution cites Article 40 of the Constitutive Act of the Armed Forces, Decree 39-2001, that establishes: "The head of the Joint Chiefs will run for three years in office and only be removed by resignation, incapacity absolute disqualification from office for final decision and loss or suspension of citizenship decreed by competent authority in accordance with the law and by the end of his time on active duty in the armed forces. The military forcibly exiled President Zelaya on June 28, 2009 precipitating the 2009 Honduran coup d'état. The Attorney General charged the military leadership for this act, but the Supreme Court dismissed all charges.
Political career
On March 9, 2010, President Porfirio Lobo Sosa appointed Romeo Vásquez Velásquez as the head of the state-owned telecom company Hondutel.
Vásquez Velásquez is running for president of Honduras in the Honduran general election, 2013, for the Honduran Patriotic Alliance party, formed in 2011.
