José Félix Lafaurie Rivera (; born 1958) is a Colombian politician, businessman, and union leader who has served as the president of the Colombian Federation of Cattle Ranchers (Fedegán) since 2004. He is a recognized voice of Colombia's political right and is the husband of María Fernanda Cabal, a central figure of Uribismo and a senator representing the Democratic Center party. Early life and education Lafaurie was born in Santa Marta in 1958 to a prominent family descended from French-Cuban traders who arrived in the Colombian Caribbean in the early 19th century. His father, José Vicente Lafaurie Acosta, represented the Department of Magdalena as a senator, while his grandfather, General Antonio Galo Lafaurie Celedón, was a veteran of the Conservative army during the Thousand Days' War. Before entering politics, Lafaurie received a degree in civil engineering and earned a master's degree in economics from the Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá. Political career Lafaurie has held various positions in the Colombian government and in the private sector. He was named the vice minister of agriculture in July 1991 in the government of César Gaviria, resigning from the post later that same year. A staunch ally of conservative governments, he also served as deputy comptroller from 1998 to 2001 in the government of Andrés Pastrano and superintendent of notaries and registry from 2002 to 2004 during Álvaro Uribe's presidency. References Living people Colombian economists Colombian politicians