Luz María Zapata Zapata (born September 2, 1967) is a Colombian union leader and politician who served as Second Lady of Colombia from 2014 to 2017, and President of Asocapitales from 2018 to 2025. She was married to the 10th Vice President of Colombia, Germán Vargas Lleras.[1][2][3]
Luz María Zapata | |
|---|---|
 Zapata in 2024 | |
| Second Lady of Colombia | |
| In role August 7, 2014 – March 11, 2017 | |
| Vice President | Germán Vargas Lleras |
| Preceded by | Montserrat Muñoz de Garzón |
| Succeeded by | Claudia Luque |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Luz María Zapata Zapata September 2, 1967 Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia |
| Party | Independent (2022–present) |
Other political affiliations | Radical Change (2010-2022) |
| Spouse | |
| Education | University of the Andes (BSc) |
Graduate of the University of the Andes with a degree in political science, she holds a Master’s in Emotional Intelligence and Well-being from Universidad del Rosario and completed both the Combating Transnational Threat Networks Course at the National Defense University and The Art and Practice of Leadership Development at Harvard University.
Early life and marriage
editLuz María Zapata Zapata was born on September 2, 1967, in Pereira, Risaralda. Her mother, Luz Mary Zapata de Zapata, is the founder of the Green Civic Movement. She studied Political Science at the University of the Andes, where she met Germán Vargas Lleras, whom she married in August 2010.[4][5][6]
In 2014, Zapata campaigned alongside Vargas Lleras during the 2014 presidential election. After the Santos-Vargas Lleras ticket won, Zapata assumed the role of social hostess at the Vice Presidential House as second lady. With limited public appearances, she focused more on her role as an advisor to the vice president while simultaneously serving as executive director of the Colombian Association of Liquor Companies, a position she held for 14 years. She is the first second lady of Colombia to hold a job while her husband is vice president. In 2017, after Vargas Lleras resigned to run for president in the 2018 presidential election, Zapata returned to public life, this time with a more active role, even describing Vargas Lleras as "the best prepared of them all."
She worked as a social and political advisor for the Good Governance Foundation. She later served as coordinator of social and women's policies in presidential campaigns and as a researcher at the Organization of Ibero-American States.[7]
In 2024, she published her autobiography, "Rolaisa," which covers her life, achievements, and the participation of women in politics.[8]
2026 presidential election
editReferences
edit- ↑ Cortés Mejía, Nicolás (24 May 2018). "Conozca un poco más de Luz María Zapata, la esposa de Vargas Lleras". El Tiempo. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
- ↑ "Las esposas de los candidatos presidenciales". Semana. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ↑ ""En todos los gobiernos hay cosas buenas": Luz María Zapata, directora de Asocapitales". Canal 1. 3 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ↑ Álvarez Gardeazábal, Gustavo (10 July 2025). "La Zapata". Las2orillas. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- ↑ "Luz María Zapata será la fórmula vicepresidencial de Luis Gilberto Murillo en su carrera por la Presidencia". Agencia PI. 12 March 2026. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
- ↑ Munevar, Tatiana (8 May 2026). "Luz María Zapata, última esposa de Germán Vargas Lleras, y su vida junto al exvicepresidente". Colombia. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ↑ "¿Quién es Luz María Zapata? La fórmula vicepresidencial de Murillo". Kienyke. 13 March 2026. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
- ↑ "Luz María Zapata lanza "Rolaisa": una vida entre dos tierras y el capítulo que emociona a sus lectores". Pulzo. 14 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ↑ Álvarez, Nelson (8 July 2025). "Luz María Zapata, exesposa de Germán Vargas Lletas, inscribió su candidatura presidencial por firmas". Infobae. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
- ↑ "Luz María Zapata, exdirectora de Asocapitales, lanza candidatura por firmas". La Silla Vacía. 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ↑ Suesca, Lizeth (8 July 2024). "'Luz para Colombia': movimiento con el que exdirectora de Asocapitales busca la presidencia 2026". Caracol Radio. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ↑ "Luz María Zapata ya es la candidata número 40 que buscará inscribirse por firmas". El Espectador. 8 July 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
