Jennifer Arias Falla

Jennifer Kristin Arias Falla (born 13 January 1987) is a Colombian politician who was President of the country's House of Representatives in 2021–2022.

Early life and education Arias was born in New York City, United States, on 13 January 1987 to contractor Luis Eduardo Arias Castellanos and Laura Falla Londoño. She has six brothers; her father was convicted of murder in 1993. On 2 November 2021, following a report of plagiarism by the website Plagio S.O.S. in her master's thesis, Universidad Externado opened an investigation. Later, on 22 November 2021 the university confirmed plagiarism in her dissertation . The university stated that it will pursue the annulation of the aforementioned degree, and sent the relevant documentation to the criminal chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice of Colombia and the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia.

Arias was "Miss Meta" at the Miss Colombia 2007 pageant.

Under political agreements made in 2018 as part of the Colombian peace process, the Democratic Center Party would hold the presidency of the House of Representatives from 2021 to 2022. Arias was selected as the party's candidate by party leader and former President Álvaro Uribe, who she describes as her mentor.

In July 2021, her election as President of the House of Representatives was ratified, making her the third woman to hold the role. She is also Vice President of the Congress of the Republic. Her appointment was criticized by members of the opposition because her brother is imprisoned in the United States for drug trafficking and allegations that she had ties to drug trafficking and money laundering while working as Duque's campaign manager. After her election, journalist Maria Jimena Duzan published an image of Arias posing with a gun; her press team said it was a "Halloween prank". Arias later said it was an example of women in Colombian politics being stigmatized because of their appearance.

In September 2021, fellow party member and representative Gabriel Santos put "Wanted posters" of Arias throughout Congress after she had delayed signing legislation to cut vacations of members of congress for its work to progress.

Personal life Arias is a committed Catholic.