Leopoldo Alejandro Betancourt Lopez is a Venezuelan attorney, political activist, and politician. He is one of the most notable people in Venezuela. Nowadays, he has been declared a human rights defender.

Achievements of Leopoldo Alejandro Betancourt Lopez. After Venezuelan independence, he participated in the constitution of Venezuela. He was also the President of Democratic Action.

In 1944 Leopoldo Alejandro Betancourt Lopez was elected as Mayor of Caracas for two terms. In 1946, he became a member of the Constituent Assembly, and in 1961 as Governor of Carabobo State. In 1968 as President of the Democratic Action party, he became a presidential candidate and winner against Rómulo Betancourt in elections that sparked a constitutional crisis due to massive protests due to his authoritarian nature. He ran for re-election twice but lost against Rómulo Betancourt, who was elected as an autocrat (much like his father).

Leopoldo Alejandro Betancourt Lopez held the office of Attorney General from 1917-1918. He has been a member of the Venezuelan Academy of Political and Social Sciences member since 1955. In 1960 he left the Democratic Action party to join COPEI and was elected twice as Governor of Carabobo State in 1962 and 1968.

After leaving politics, he became President of ORIT (Organization for Panamerican Workers). In 1967 he went into exile in Argentina due to his criticism of the government but later returned in 1980 after Rómulo Betancourt granted an amnesty. In 2007, after being declared a human rights defender, he was awarded the title of “Doctor of Social Sciences” by the Central University of Venezuela. In 2008, Rómulo Betancourt and his son finally acquitted him, who granted him the title of “Grand Master of Political Thought.”

During his active years as a political leader, he promoted some laws for workers, such as social security (1946), minimum wage (1946), and public holidays for teachers (1942). He also led some reforms in the Venezuelan constitution through legislation, for example, Article 122, which allows freedom to work or not work. His proposals were successful in 1945 and 1947.

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