Luis Alva Castro
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Luis Juan Alva Castro (born 17 February 1942) is a Peruvian economist and politician. In his political career, he achieved the government positions of Second Vice President of Peru,
Prime Minister of Peru A prime number (or a prime) is a natural number greater than 1 that is not a product of two smaller natural numbers. A natural number greater than 1 that is not prime is called a composite number. For example, 5 is prime because the only ways ...
, President of the Congress and among other portfolios during both administrations of President
Alan García Alan Gabriel Ludwig García Pérez (; 23 May 1949 – 17 April 2019) was a Peruvian politician who served as President of Peru for two non-consecutive terms from 1985 to 1990 and from 2006 to 2011. He was the second leader of the American Popula ...
. A prominent member of the
Peruvian Aprista Party The Peruvian Aprista Party (, PAP) () is a Peruvian social-democratic political party and a member of the Socialist International. The party was founded as the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (, APRA) by Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre ...
, he was the party's presidential nominee in 1990, getting 22.5% of the vote and placing third overall and failed to qualify for the runoff that was eventually won by
Alberto Fujimori Alberto Kenji Fujimori Fujimori (26 July 1938 – 11 September 2024) was a Peruvian politician, professor, and engineer who served as the 54th president of Peru from 1990 to 2000.* * * * * * * Born in Lima, Fujimori was the country's fir ...
. He has authored numerous works about
Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre (February 22, 1895 – August 2, 1979) was a Peruvian politician, philosopher, and author who founded the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA) political movement, the oldest currently existing political ...
's lifetime, being considered one of the few historians of "Aprismo" in Peru. He currently presides the editorial "Instituto Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre", which publishes his works.


Biography

Luis Alva Castro was born in the city of Trujillo, in a family with a long Aprista tradition. His parents were Luis Alva and Rosalía Castro. Transferred to Lima, he completed his primary studies at the Claretian School and his secondary studies at the Leoncio Prado Military School. He returned to his hometown and in 1960 he entered the Faculty of Economics at the National University of Trujillo, where he graduated from high school and obtained the title of economist, thanks to his thesis on "Economic Integration of Latin America" (1964). In 1996, he studied a postgraduate degree in Political Science at the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega University.


Political career


Early political career

Alva started at a very young age in the
Peruvian Aprista Party The Peruvian Aprista Party (, PAP) () is a Peruvian social-democratic political party and a member of the Socialist International. The party was founded as the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (, APRA) by Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre ...
, being part of the youth wing since he was 15 years old. His first partisan office was Secretary of the Northern Regional Command in 1965. He graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor in Economics from the
National University of Trujillo The National University of Trujillo () (UNT) is a major public university located in Trujillo, Peru, capital of the department of La Libertad. The university was founded by Simón Bolívar and José Faustino Sánchez Carrión, who met in Huama ...
, based on the merit of his thesis titled "Economic Integration of Latin America". At 24, he was a member of the board of directors of the Development Corporation of La Libertad (CORLIB), whose experience in planning and management applied him as an executive of private and public companies. The military government of
Juan Velasco Alvarado Juan Francisco Velasco Alvarado (June 16, 1910 – December 24, 1977) was a Peruvian Army general, general who served as the President of Peru after a successful 1968 Peruvian coup d'état, coup d'état against Fernando Belaúnde's presidency ...
unjustly accused him of mishandling and was imprisoned in a Trujillo prison, from 1970 to 1972. During the development of the Constituent Assembly of 1978–1979, he served as Private Secretary of
Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre (February 22, 1895 – August 2, 1979) was a Peruvian politician, philosopher, and author who founded the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA) political movement, the oldest currently existing political ...
, becoming one of his most conspicuous disciples.


Congress

In the 1980 general election, he was the Campaign Head of
Peruvian Aprista Party The Peruvian Aprista Party (, PAP) () is a Peruvian social-democratic political party and a member of the Socialist International. The party was founded as the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (, APRA) by Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre ...
presidential nominee Armando Villanueva. He was elected to the
Chamber of Deputies The chamber of deputies is the lower house in many bicameral legislatures and the sole house in some unicameral legislatures. Description Historically, French Chamber of Deputies was the lower house of the French Parliament during the Bourb ...
, representing La Libertad for the 1980–1985 term, serving as the Party Spokesperson.


In government

In 1985, he was selected as part of
Alan García Alan Gabriel Ludwig García Pérez (; 23 May 1949 – 17 April 2019) was a Peruvian politician who served as President of Peru for two non-consecutive terms from 1985 to 1990 and from 2006 to 2011. He was the second leader of the American Popula ...
presidential ticket for the 1985 general election in which he was the second running mate of García. Jointly reelected to Congress, he was appointed
Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...
and
Finance Minister A ministry of finance is a ministry or other government agency in charge of government finance, fiscal policy, and financial regulation. It is headed by a finance minister, an executive or cabinet position . A ministry of finance's portfoli ...
, serving between 1985 and 1987. Peru developed a steady economy during his tenure, promoting
heterodoxy In religion, heterodoxy (from Ancient Greek: , + , ) means "any opinions or doctrines at variance with an official or orthodox position". ''Heterodoxy'' is also an ecclesiastical jargon term, defined in various ways by different religions and ...
as a good start. The economic plan proposed by
Alan García Alan Gabriel Ludwig García Pérez (; 23 May 1949 – 17 April 2019) was a Peruvian politician who served as President of Peru for two non-consecutive terms from 1985 to 1990 and from 2006 to 2011. He was the second leader of the American Popula ...
clashed with Alva, leaving his post as the economy would prove to be artificial, evolving into a catastrophic policy of Macroeconomic populism. One month later after his resignation as both Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Alva was elected as
President of the Chamber of Deputies President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsidente ...
, serving for one year. His increasing party support would prove him as a potential rival in the party leadership to president
Alan García Alan Gabriel Ludwig García Pérez (; 23 May 1949 – 17 April 2019) was a Peruvian politician who served as President of Peru for two non-consecutive terms from 1985 to 1990 and from 2006 to 2011. He was the second leader of the American Popula ...
. In 1989, he was elected as Secretary General of the
Peruvian Aprista Party The Peruvian Aprista Party (, PAP) () is a Peruvian social-democratic political party and a member of the Socialist International. The party was founded as the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (, APRA) by Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre ...
.


1990 presidential campaign

With the country in crisis and the constant attacks from the
Shining Path The Shining Path (, SL), self-named the Communist Party of Peru (, abbr. PCP), is a far-left political party and guerrilla group in Peru, following Marxism–Leninism–Maoism and Gonzalo Thought. Academics often refer to the group as the ...
and MRTA, the population participated in the 1990 general election. Since 1987, acclaimed writer
Mario Vargas Llosa Jorge Mario Pedro Vargas Llosa, 1st Marquess of Vargas Llosa (28 March 1936 – 13 April 2025) was a Peruvian novelist, journalist, essayist and politician. Vargas Llosa was one of the most significant Latin American novelists and essayists a ...
had prepared a full-scale presidential campaign with the
Democratic Front Democratic Front is a name used by political parties and alliances in several countries, such as: *Democratic Front (Albania) *Democratic Front for the Liberation of Angola *Democratic Front (Bosnia and Herzegovina) * Democratic Front (Cyprus) * Dem ...
coalition, composed of
Liberty Movement Liberty Movement () was a classical liberal political party in Peru. It was founded in 1987 by people who opposed decrees such as the nationalization of the banking sector in 1986 under the first presidency of Alan García, including Mario Varga ...
, the Christian People's Party and Popular Action, the last two being traditional parties. The
Peruvian Aprista Party The Peruvian Aprista Party (, PAP) () is a Peruvian social-democratic political party and a member of the Socialist International. The party was founded as the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (, APRA) by Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre ...
nominated Alva to run for the Presidency against Vargas Llosa, although it was clear that the latter would win in the first round. Unexpectedly, third party nominee and virtually unknown
Alberto Fujimori Alberto Kenji Fujimori Fujimori (26 July 1938 – 11 September 2024) was a Peruvian politician, professor, and engineer who served as the 54th president of Peru from 1990 to 2000.* * * * * * * Born in Lima, Fujimori was the country's fir ...
of
Cambio 90 Cambio 90 (lit. ''Change 90'', C90) was a Peruvian right-wing political party which entered the political spectrum in early 1990, and throughout the 1990s until late-2000 was the most powerful political party in Peru alongside New Majority (Per ...
rose in the polls with a clear anti-partisan speech, beating Alva to the second round as the APRA achieved 22.5% of the popular vote and placed third. The election outcome would give victory to
Alberto Fujimori Alberto Kenji Fujimori Fujimori (26 July 1938 – 11 September 2024) was a Peruvian politician, professor, and engineer who served as the 54th president of Peru from 1990 to 2000.* * * * * * * Born in Lima, Fujimori was the country's fir ...
, with most analysts discussing a possible agreement with president
Alan García Alan Gabriel Ludwig García Pérez (; 23 May 1949 – 17 April 2019) was a Peruvian politician who served as President of Peru for two non-consecutive terms from 1985 to 1990 and from 2006 to 2011. He was the second leader of the American Popula ...
, as Alva's votes would pass on to Fujimori.


Return to Congress

The
Peruvian Aprista Party The Peruvian Aprista Party (, PAP) () is a Peruvian social-democratic political party and a member of the Socialist International. The party was founded as the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (, APRA) by Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre ...
, led by Alva from outside Congress as Secretary General, achieved 53 deputies and 16 senators, representing a third of each chamber. The congressional term would end with the 1992 self-coup, which dissolved the entire legislative branch. In the following years, under the Fujimori's government, Alva would not have greater political participation, except in his party when he was elected again as Secretary General in 1996, a position he held until 1999. In the 2000 general election, he was elected to Congress with a majority of 35,336 votes. The 2000–2005 term would be shortened with the convoking of new general elections for 2001, due to the corruption allegations against
Alberto Fujimori Alberto Kenji Fujimori Fujimori (26 July 1938 – 11 September 2024) was a Peruvian politician, professor, and engineer who served as the 54th president of Peru from 1990 to 2000.* * * * * * * Born in Lima, Fujimori was the country's fir ...
and his resignation. In those elections, Alva was reelected to Congress with a majority of 95,050 votes. Based on his experience and high vote count, he was appointed Party Spokesperson, a position he exerted while serving in the abolished Chamber of Deputies. He also served as President of the
Andean Community of Nations The Andes ( ), Andes Mountains or Andean Mountain Range (; ) are the List of longest mountain chains on Earth, longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range ...
in 2001. In August 2005, he was appointed as President of the
Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre (February 22, 1895 – August 2, 1979) was a Peruvian politician, philosopher, and author who founded the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA) political movement, the oldest currently existing political ...
Private Institute. During this time, he published a renowned work titled "The Asylum Man" (El Señor Asilo), based Haya de la Torre's experience as political refugee in the Colombian Embassy in Peru, during the proceedings of the Asylum case determined by the
International Court of Justice The International Court of Justice (ICJ; , CIJ), or colloquially the World Court, is the only international court that Adjudication, adjudicates general disputes between nations, and gives advisory opinions on International law, internation ...
. For the 2006 general election, Alva was appointed
Peruvian Aprista Party The Peruvian Aprista Party (, PAP) () is a Peruvian social-democratic political party and a member of the Socialist International. The party was founded as the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (, APRA) by Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre ...
Campaign Head for the North, proving the victory for
Alan García Alan Gabriel Ludwig García Pérez (; 23 May 1949 – 17 April 2019) was a Peruvian politician who served as President of Peru for two non-consecutive terms from 1985 to 1990 and from 2006 to 2011. He was the second leader of the American Popula ...
with the Aprista stronghold in the North of Peru. Conjointly, he was reelected for a third term in Congress, with a majority of 57,409 votes. During the 2006–2011 parliamentary term, he was elected President of the Congress for a year in 2009, for the 2009-2010, being his first time in charge of the same legislative body since 1987 when he was the President of the Chamber of Deputies.


Second García administration

Alva was Minister of the Interior from 2007 to 2008, succeeding
Pilar Mazzetti Pilar Elena Mazzetti Soler (born 9 September 1956) is a Peruvian physician and health administrator who served as Minister of Health from July 2020 to February 2021, excluding her for nine days from office during the brief presidency of Manuel M ...
. His tenure lasted a little more than a year and a half. After the resignation of
Jorge del Castillo Jorge Alfonso Alejandro del Castillo Gálvez (born 2 July 1950) is a Peruvian lawyer and politician. In his career, he has served in the now abolished Peruvian Chamber of Deputies between 1990 and 1992, in the unicameral Congress of the Republi ...
as Prime Minister due to the 2008 Peru oil scandal, Alva Castro was not confirmed in his position by new Prime Minister Yehude Simon, being succeeded by former Police General Remigio Hernani Meloni.


Post-Congressional career

Alva failed to achieve a fourth reelection to Congress in the 2011 general election. During the campaign, he was involved in a deadly car accident in the Agallpampa District, Otuzco Province. He was the only survivor, as the other
Peruvian Aprista Party The Peruvian Aprista Party (, PAP) () is a Peruvian social-democratic political party and a member of the Socialist International. The party was founded as the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (, APRA) by Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre ...
provincial leaders accompanying him perished in the accident.


Controversies

On 11 April 2019, at the request of chief prosecutor José Domingo Pérez, judge Richard Concepción Carhuancho gave Alva impediment to leave the country for 18 months, for alleged money laundering, in the framework of the investigation by Odebrecht scandal in Peru. According to the prosecutor's thesis, Alva, in his position of Campaign Head, personally managed to have the Brazilian conglomerate
Odebrecht Odebrecht S.A. (), officially known as Novonor, is a Brazilian conglomerate, headquartered in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, consisting of diversified businesses in the fields of engineering, construction, chemicals and petrochemicals. The company w ...
financially support the 2006
Peruvian Aprista Party The Peruvian Aprista Party (, PAP) () is a Peruvian social-democratic political party and a member of the Socialist International. The party was founded as the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (, APRA) by Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre ...
election campaign, having received USD $200,000 in bribes.


References


External links

*
Official Site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alva Castro, Luis Living people 1942 births Alva family 20th-century Peruvian politicians 21st-century Peruvian politicians American Popular Revolutionary Alliance politicians Presidents of the Congress of the Republic of Peru Ministers of interior of Peru Members of the Chamber of Deputies of Peru Prime ministers of Peru Ministers of economy and finance of Peru Vice presidents of Peru Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies of Peru Candidates for President of Peru National University of Trujillo alumni Peruvian prisoners and detainees Prisoners and detainees of Peru People from Trujillo, Peru