NewsLatin AmericaTime magazine chooses Francia Marquez as one of the 100 leaders of the future

Time magazine chooses Francia Marquez as one of the 100 leaders of the future

The Vice President of Colombia, Francia Marquez, known as the spokesperson for the nobodyhas been recognized by the American magazine Time for his leadership. The publication included her in its Time 100 Next list, a selection of 100 emerging leaders around the world. The former president of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado Quesada, highlighted in Marquez’s presentation of her “fight for equality” and described her as a benchmark for the country’s Afro-descendant, indigenous and rural population. “It is a powerful example for all the boys and girls in the Western Hemisphere, who say: ‘I want to be like France when I grow up,'” said the center-left Costa Rican politician.

The list of emerging referents should not be confused with the traditional Time 100, which since 1999 has selected the 100 most influential people. The Time 100 Next publication, published since 2019, focuses on “rising stars.” It is a selection made by members of the magazine’s editorial team, without pre-established parameters. Marquez was valued for “working with the most vulnerable” and for her fight in defense of the environment. Alvarado Quesada highlighted in her text that the vice president won The Goldman Environmental Award in 2018 for her activism against illegal mining.

The vice president thanked the recognition through Twitter. “My commitment is to protect the big house and guarantee the rights of historically violated communities,” she declared.

The publication emphasizes the power of those selected in “defining the future.” However, the Vice President’s presentation has been limited to her achievements, with no reference to long-term potential. The former Costa Rican president has characterized Marquez as “a woman of action” who is not just a symbol. It is what the vice president assured during the campaign: “This Vice Presidency is not going to be for decoration, I am not a woman for decorations,” she promised then.

The recognition comes as Colombia debates Marquez’s role as vice president, a position that in Colombia does not have defined responsibilities. A presidential decree established two weeks ago that her powers include the coordination of policies against racial and gender discrimination. The president, Gustavo Petro, did not appoint her as head of a ministry, as she has claimed since the presidential campaign.

Marquez shares the Time 100 list with politicians, artists, and activists. Among the recognized personalities are the American singer SZA, the Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz, the Argentinian trans activist Alba Rueda, the Mexican architect Frida Escobedo and the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas.

There is only one other Colombian on the list. Valle del Cauca artist Oscar Murillo, who has lived in the United Kingdom since childhood, was recognized as someone who believes that “art is born from trauma” and that creativity can provide comfort to the artist. The magazine highlighted that the painter, winner of the Turner Prize in 2019, is preparing a new exhibition in Venice (Italy).

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Source: EL PAIS

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