Personal:
Birth date: April 29, 1971Birth place: Caracas, VenezuelaBirth name: Leopoldo Eduardo López MendozaFather: Leopoldo López Gil, a restaurateur and businessmanMother: Antonieta Mendoza de López, a media executiveMarriage: Lilian Tintori (2007-present)Children: Manuela and Leopoldo SantiagoEducation: Kenyon College, B.A., Sociology, 1993; Harvard University, M.P.P., Public Policy, 1996Other Facts:
He's the great-great grandson of Venezuela's first president, Cristóbal Mendoza.Is a descendent of South American liberator Simon Bólívar.Was re-elected mayor of Chacao with 81% of the vote and ended the term with a 92% approval rating.Timeline:
1996-1999 – Assistant to the Chief Economist and Economic Adviser for Petróleos de Venezuela S.A.2000-2001 – Works as a professor of economics at Universidad Católica Andrés Bello.2000-2008 – Serves two four-year terms as mayor of Chacao, a district of Caracas.2008 – The government of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávezbans López from running for public office, accusing him of corruption and misuse of public funds. Chavez's government banned hundreds of other politicians – many of whom were from parties opposed to Chavez. 2009 – Helps launch a new political party called the Voluntad Popular, or the Popular Will. The party mission is to overcome poverty and to secure a democracy where all Venezuelans have rights.September 16, 2011 – The Inter-American Court of Human Rights announces its ruling that López's rights were violated when he was banned from running for office.October 17, 2011 – Venezuela's Supreme Court rejects the ruling from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, upholding the ban on López running for office. A day later, López vows to run for president despite the court's ruling.January 24, 2012 – López withdraws from the presidential election and backs opposition candidate Henrique Capriles Radonski.February 13, 2014 – After at least three people are killed during an anti-government protest in Caracas, a Venezuelan court issues an arrest warrant for Lopez. Authorities claim he is responsible for the violence. He is charged with conspiracy, murder, and terrorism.February 18, 2014 – López turns himself in. February 19-20, 2014 – A hearing to charge López takes place. Prosecutors drop the charges of murder and terrorism.April 4, 2014 – Venezuela's attorney general announces that López has been formally charged with public incitement, property damage, arson and conspiracy. Activists hold a protest in Caracas to declare López's innocence. September 10, 2015 – Is convicted and sentenced to nearly 14 years in prison. The conviction sparks protests.May 3, 2017 – A "proof of life" video is released to dispel rumors that he is in poor health. July 8, 2017 – Read More – Source
