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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - In recent years, the political landscape has seen a significant shift with younger leaders stepping into influential roles. The rise of young vice presidents around the world is evidence of this change, as they take on substantial responsibilities while still in the early stages of their careers.
In this article, we take a look at the lives and accomplishments of seven of the youngest vice presidents in the world, represented as a symbol of hope and progress.
1. Sara Duterte (The Philippines)
Sara Zimmerman Duterte, popularly known as Inday Sara, is the 15th Vice President of the Philippines. She took office in 2022 at the age of 44, making her the third female and youngest vice president in Philippine history.
As the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, she followed in her father’s political footsteps, but her current position is not her first time in politics.
Prior to becoming a politician, Sara served as a court attorney in the Supreme Court of the Philippines in 2006. In the following year, she began her career in politics as the Vice Mayor of Davao City from 2007 to 2010 and eventually became the elected Mayor in 2010.
Under her leadership, she successfully brought Davao City to its fullest potential. According to the official website of the Philippines Office of the Vice President, Davao City received 36 awards, citations, and recognitions for good governance, business, tourism, health, environment, fiscal management, and transparency.
2. Gibran Rakabuming Raka (Indonesia)
Similar to the Philippines, Indonesia also witnesses the rise of a young political figure. Gibran Rakabuming Raka made history as the youngest Vice President of Indonesia at the age of 37.
Aside from being the son of the 7th President of Indonesia, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, Gibran was previously well-known to the public for its culinary businesses; some of the prominent ones include Chili Pari and Markobar.
He then served as the Mayor of Surakarta in 2021, marking his debut in the political field. Soon, Gibran will officially be inaugurated as the 14th Vice President of Indonesia in the ceremony on October 20.
Gibran’s involvement in politics is very much a surprise for many people, given his initial reluctance to pursue a career in the field. He previously stated that he preferred being an entrepreneur over a politician, despite eventually becoming one, following in his father’s footsteps.
“I’m interested in becoming an entrepreneur (like my father), but to be a politician, I’m not,” Gibran said in Cikini, Central Jakarta, as reported by Tempo on March 11, 2018.
3. Francia Márquez (Colombia)
Francia Márquez is among the youngest vice presidents in the world. She assumed office in 2022 when she was 40 years old, marking her as Colombia’s first black female vice president. Along with her current position, she was also sworn in as a Minister of Women and Equality, according to Black Past.
Long before her journey into politics, Márquez was a prominent environmental and human rights activist. She was a formidable leader of the Afro-Colombian community and once successfully helped stop illegal mining on the ancestral land of the La Toma community.
Thanks to her dedicated efforts, Márquez was honored with the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2018. She had also been recognized with the Colombia National Prize in 2015 for her involvement in the "March of Turbans."
4. Jose Gabriel Carrizo (Panama)
Jose Gabriel Carrizo began his career as the Vice President of Panama in 2019 at just 36 years old. A member of the Democratic Revolutionary Party, Carrizo partnered with Laurentino “Nito” Cortizo in the 2019 Panama presidential election.
He graduated from Santa María La Antigua Catholic University and obtained a degree in Law and Political Sciences. Before serving as a vice president, according to Tvn Panamá, he worked as a lawyer and an entrepreneur, participating in family businesses in construction and livestock.
Carrizo stepped down in July 2024. His position is vacant for the moment since the current administration of José Raúl Mulino doesn’t have a vice president after Ricardo Martinelli's disqualification as a candidate.
5. Mansour bin Zayed (United Arab Emirates)
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, born in 1970, is the current Vice President of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.). Citing diwan.gov.ae, Mansour has a degree in International Relations after pursuing his studies in the United States.
In politics, he initially served as the Minister of Presidential Affairs in November 2004. He was then appointed as Deputy Prime Minister soon after the formation of the new cabinet in May 2009.
Later, he assumed his vice presidency in 2023 following the Federal Decree-Law issued by the President of the U.A.E., Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
6. Veronica Abad Rojas (Ecuador)
Veronica Abad Rojas serves as the current Ecuador’s vice president. Abad was the running mate of Daniel Noboa, and they assumed office in 2023.
Citing Plan V, Abad was born into a family of musicians. She obtained three master’s degrees, with one from Harvard. Before pursuing a career as a politician, she worked as a businesswoman.
7. Mary Munive (Costa Rica)
Mary Munive, born on April 10, 1981, is the second Vice President of the Republic of Costa Rica, serving with Stephan Brunner. Taking office in April 2022, Munive has a degree in Medicine and Surgery, specializing in Family and Community Medicine.
Along with her vice presidency, the official website of Presidencia de la República notes that she also serves as the Ministry of Health.
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