Luis H. Álvarez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Luis H. Álvarez
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| Senator of the Congress of the Union | |
| In office 1 September 1994 – 31 August 2000 |
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| Succeeded by | Jorge Doroteo Zapata |
| Director General of the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples | |
| In office 15 December 2006 – 31 December 2009 |
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| President | Felipe Calderón |
| Preceded by | Xóchitl Gálvez Ruiz |
| Succeeded by | Xavier Abreu Sierra |
| President of the National Action Party | |
| In office 9 March 1987 – 9 March 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Pablo Emilio Madero |
| Succeeded by | Carlos Castillo Peraza |
| Mayor of Chihuahua | |
| In office 9 March 1983 – 9 March 1986 |
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| Preceded by | Ramiro Cota Martínez |
| Succeeded by | Pedro César Acosta |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Luis Héctor Álvarez
October 25, 1919 Camargo, Chihuahua, Mexico |
| Died | May 18, 2016 (aged 96) León, Guanajuato, Mexico |
| Political party | National Action Party |
| Spouse |
Blanca Magrassi Scagno
(m. 1947; died 2015) |
| Alma mater | University of Texas at Austin |
| Occupation | Businessman |
Luis Héctor Álvarez Álvarez (born October 25, 1919 – died May 18, 2016) was an important Mexican businessman and politician. He was a member of the National Action Party, often called PAN. In 1958, he ran to become the President of Mexico. He also served as the Mayor of Chihuahua, led his political party, and helped with peace talks in Chiapas.
Contents
Luis H. Álvarez: A Life in Politics
Luis Héctor Álvarez spent much of his life working in the textile industry. He first became involved in politics in Ciudad Juárez. In 1956, the PAN party chose him to run for Governor of Chihuahua. He lost this election. After the election, Álvarez and his party claimed that the results were not fair. To protest this, Álvarez led a group of people from Chihuahua all the way to Mexico City. This act was a form of civil disobedience.
In 1958, he ran for president as the PAN candidate. He ran against Adolfo López Mateos but did not win the election.
Leading Chihuahua City
For several years, Álvarez focused on his private business. Then, in 1983, he was elected Municipal President (which is like a mayor) of Chihuahua City. As a leader from an opposition party, Álvarez often disagreed with the state and federal governments. He felt his city was not getting enough support or a say in important decisions.
To protest these issues, Álvarez went on a hunger strike. This meant he stopped eating for 40 days. His strike also challenged the 1986 elections in Chihuahua. Opposition parties believed these elections were also unfair.
Becoming a Party Leader
In 1987, Luis H. Álvarez was elected the 14th president of the PAN party. He was re-elected in 1990.
His time as party president is seen differently by various people. His supporters say that under his leadership, the PAN became the strongest opposition party in Mexico. However, some critics believed that the party moved away from its original ideas. Some important party members even left the PAN. They disagreed with Álvarez's approach of talking with President Carlos Salinas de Gortari. They felt this made the government seem more legitimate, even though it was facing strong criticism for unfair elections.
Working for Peace and Indigenous Rights
From 1994 to 2000, Álvarez was elected to the Senate for Chihuahua. During this time, he was part of a special group called the Commission of Concord and Pacification in Chiapas. This group was in charge of peace talks between the Mexican government and the Zapatista Army of National Liberation.
In 2000, President Vicente Fox asked him to be the Coordinator of the Dialogue for Peace in Chiapas. Even with this important role, he was never able to directly contact the leaders of the Zapatista Army.
On December 15, 2006, President Felipe Calderón appointed him to lead the Commission for the Development of the Indigenous People. This commission worked to help and support Mexico's indigenous communities.
Family Life
Luis H. Álvarez was married to Blanca Magrassi Scagno. She was also an activist and an important person within the PAN party. Blanca Magrassi Scagno passed away on October 9, 2015, at the age of 92.
Images for kids
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Álvarez as a candidate for president in 1958.
See also
In Spanish: Luis H. Álvarez para niños
