Claudia de Francisco

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is de Francisco and the second or maternal family name is Zambrano.

Claudia de Francisco
Minister of Comunication
In office August 7, 1998 – April 25, 2000
President	Andrés Pastrana
Preceded by	José Fernando Bautista
Succeeded by	María del Rosario Síntes
Personal details
Born	María Claudia de Francisco Zambrano (1955-07-30) July 30, 1955 Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
Party	Independent (2000-present)
Other political affiliations	Conservative (1988-2000) New Democratic Force (1994-2000)
Spouse	Rafael Pardo ​ ​ (m. 1982; sep. 2015)​
Education	University of the Andes

Claudia de Francisco (born June 30, 1955) is a Colombian industrial engineer, economist, businesswoman, and politician who served as Minister of comunication from 1998 to 2000 under President Andrés Pastrana. A member of the Conservative Party, she also served as First lady of Bogotá and secretary of finance of Bogotá.

Born in Bogotá, D.C., she holds a degree in industrial engineer from the University of the Andes. She has distinguished herself as a prominent economist.

Early life and career

María Claudia de Francisco Zambrano was born on June 30, 1959, in Bogotá, D.C., to Hernando de Francisco and Lola Zambrano. Her mother was originally from Popayán, Cauca, a fact that would later influence Claudia's life. She spent her entire youth in Bogotá, D.C., and showed a great affinity for numbers. After finishing high school, she began studying industrial engineer at the University of the Andes.

In 1982, de Francisco married the politician Rafael Pardo. Their families were close within Bogotá's social circles. In 1986, de Francisco entered politics, accompanying then-Bogotá City Councilor Andrés Pastrana in his mayoral campaign, becoming one of the founding members of the New Democratic Force party.

In 1988, following Pastrana de Francisco's victory, she was appointed Secretary of Finance, a position she held throughout the entire term until 1990. She then entered the private sector until 1994, when she joined Andrés Pastrana's presidential campaign. After his defeat in the 1994 presidential election, she dedicated herself to her family, rejoining the presidential campaign in 1998. Following the victory of the Pastrana-Bell ticket, de Francisco was appointed Minister of Communications, a position she held until the beginning of 2000. After her time at the Ministry of Communications, de Francisco gradually returned to the private sector, a decision she made in accordance with her family's wishes.

In 2010, de Francisco campaigned alongside her husband after he received the Liberal Party's nomination. De Francisco was already familiar with the strain and arduous work involved in a presidential campaign. Together with Rafael she travel to more than 35 destinations across the country.