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20 Fascinating Facts about Former Peruvian President Alan Garcia

Alan Garcia was a Peruvian politician born on May 23, 1949, in Lima, Peru, to a middle-class family. He served as President of Peru for two non-consecutive terms from 1985 to 1990 and from 2006 to 2011. His time in the office was marked by a mix of economic achievements, social initiatives, and political controversies. Despite all these, he was a man who inspired love and hate, admiration and hatred, loyalty and betrayal. He was, in his own words, 鈥渁 man of extremes.鈥� Unfortunately, he shot himself on April 17, 2019, and his death shocked a lot of people in Peru. It sparked a debate about the political and judicial system in the country. Therefore, today in this article we are going to explore some of the fascinating facts about the Peruvian president.

1. He became the youngest president in Peru

Alan Garcia was elected as the president of Peru in 1985. He became the youngest president in the country鈥檚 history at the age of 36 years old. This was a tremendous change from the traditionally older leaders in Peru. He achieved this success by winning the general election with 53% of the vote, winning against Fernando Belaunde Terry, who was in office at the time and was still seeking a second term. Alan campaigned on a populist and nationalist platform, vowing to lessen Peru鈥檚 reliance on foreign creditors and investors while increasing spending on social programs. He appealed to the poor and the young, who were dissatisfied with the previous administration.  

2. He joined the American Popular Revolutionary (APRA) party

Alan Garcia joined the American Popular Revolutionary (APRA) in 1976, following the footsteps of his grandfather and mentor, Victor Raul Haya de la Torre, the founder of the left-leaning political party. The party historically was concerned with resolving social inequalities, strengthening workers鈥� rights, and campaigning for economic policies that promoted organized national interest. His early commitments to the party gained him several positions within the, including becoming the secretary-general in 1982. These leadership roles in the APRA party allowed him to influence the agenda and contribute to the party鈥檚 overall direction.

3. He was elected to the Constituent Assembly

A picture of president Alan Garcia.  (Attribution or Attribution), via Wikimedia Commons

In 1978, Alan was elected to the constituent Assembly, immediately after earning his diploma in sociology from IHEAL, a French Institute of higher learning. Before this achievement, Alan had been called by his grandfather, Victor Raul Haya de la Torre to come back to Peru to run for the Constituent Assembly which later on became a success. The constituent Assembly which was a body of 100 members, had the task of writing a new constitution for Peru, which would restore democracy and civil rights in the country. It was approved by a referendum in 1979 and it went into effect in 1980.

4. He faced a severe economic crisis

During his first term as the President of Peru, Alan faced a severe economic crisis that was characterized by hyperinflation, a large foreign debt, and economic instability. The annual inflation rate reached 7,500% in 1990, the highest in the world at the time and the gross domestic product (GDP) declined by 20% between 1985 and 1990. He attempted to nationalize banks and implement price controls but it failed and it contributed to further economic turmoil. This crisis contributed also to social unrest, with protests and strikes becoming more common. He is always remembered for the economic challenges and the debt crisis during his first presidency.

5. He was accused of corruption and mismanagement

Alan Garcia faced several accusations and criticism during his political career, being accused of corruption and mismanagement scandals. He was accused of stealing millions of dollars from the public budget, illegally awarding contracts and concessions to foreign companies, and squandering public funds for personal and political gain, He was also accused of having ties with drug lords and parliamentary leaders who reportedly financed his campaigns and provided him with security and intelligence. He was charged with abusing his power and violating the Constitution and the rule of law. All these accusations of corruption and mismanagement influenced public perception of Garcia and it continues to shape conversations about his position in Peruvian political history.

6. He was the author of several books

Alan Garcia.

In addition to his political career, Garcia was known as an author who wrote several books including, The New Historical Reality of Latin America (1991), The Future of Latin America (1987), The Globalization of Hope (2003), and The Challenge of the 21^st Century (2008). Alan also wrote several poems such as The Flight of the Eagle (1982). He wrote a variety of topics including, politics, history, and his views on social issues. His readers were provided insights into his thoughts and his perspectives on the topics he wrote about.

7. He went into exile to avoid corruption charges

Alan being a political figure, was aware of the political climate in Peru and he knew his political opponents or the judiciary could pursue legal action against him for being involved in many scandals. He decided to go into exile in Colombia after his term as the president of Peru. This decision was a strategic move driven by the desire to avoid corruption charges and persecution in Peru. He also knew by making that decision, he was keeping the option open for a potential political comeback in the future. It also allowed him to plan his next moves.

8. He returned to Peru in 2001

Garcia waving to a crowd.

Alan Garcia returned to Peru in 200l, spending over a decade abroad. By this time Peru had experienced various political changes and economic developments. The Peruvian authorities could also no longer prosecute him for some of the crimes he was accused of committing during his first term as president. His return marked the beginning of a new chapter in his political career as he sought to regain the trust of his voters and reestablish himself as a key figure in Peruvian politics. He ran for various political positions in Peru including running for president again in 2006, which he won and became the first president in Peru鈥檚 history to be re-elected after a non-consecutive term.

9. He accomplished significant economic growth in his second presidency

Alan Garcia’s second term was very different as compared to the first one. He regained the trust of his Peruvian people by the way he brought significant changes in the country, in terms of economic performance and policies. He adopted a more pro-market and pro-investment stance, signing free trade agreements with the United States, China, and other countries. He also improved the infrastructure sector, by promoting several infrastructure projects like the Interoceanic Highway, which connected Peru with Brazil. He achieved an average annual growth rate of 6.8% between 2006 and 2011. Alan also reduced the poverty rate from 48% to 31%, and the extreme poverty rate from 16% to 6%.

10. He implemented social programs

During his second presidency that is from 2006 to 2011, Garcia introduced various social programs to deal with poverty, improving education, and enhancing healthcare in Peru. One of the notable programs was the “Juntos” program which meant “Together” in English. It aimed to reduce poverty by offering assistance to families who couldn’t meet the healthcare and education for their children. The government worked on improving the quality of education, making efforts to increase enrollment and reduce dropout rates. There were also healthcare initiatives to address public health challenges and housing programs to improve housing conditions, particularly for low-income families.

11. He was a fan of soccer

People watching a soccer match in a stadium.

Alan has always shown his passion and interest in soccer. Soccer in Peru is a very popular sport that many Peruvians follow the local and international competitions. They have the Alianza Lima club and the Peruvian national team which has participated in five FIFA World Cups and won several titles including two Copa America titles. Garcia supported the club and the Peruvian national team. He attended several matches and events related to soccer. He also celebrated the victories and even mourned the defeats of his favorite teams. His passion for soccer was noticeable to all.

12. He became the leader of the APRA

In 1985, Alan ran for the presidency of the party and he successfully became its leader. The APRA party is one of Peru鈥檚 oldest and most influential political parties. The party historically was concerned with resolving social inequalities, strengthening workers鈥� rights, and campaigning for economic policies that promoted organized national interest. Alan became one of the youngest leaders in the party鈥檚 history, at 35 years old.

13. He was named after his paternal grandfather

Alan Garcia’s grandfather, Alan Gabriel Ludwig Garcia Perez was a prominent politician and diplomat in the early 20^th century. He was named after his grandfather to preserve and celebrate the family鈥檚 history and heritage. It probably carried familial or cultural significance which was something common in many cultures to name a child after a family member. His middle name, Ludwig, was a tribute to the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven, whom his father admired.

14. Alan had political rivalries

Throughout his career, Alan had several political rivalries with prominent figures within Peruvian politics and outside his party. His career was marked by several accusations and corruption which led to conflicts with political rivals who wanted to hold him accountable for all those accusations. They mostly disagreed with his approach to governance and party leadership. Most of his political rivalries were marked by political competition and policy differences among his main opponents: Alberto Fujimori, Ollanta Humala, and Keiko Fujimori.

15. He had some international influence

President Alan Garcia. , , via Wikimedia Commons

Alan had both positive and negative international influence over his presidential term. His influence extended to various aspects, including diplomatic relations, regional cooperation, and participation in international forums. His approach to different international relations was shaped by the geopolitical context of the time, regional dynamics, and the priorities established by his government. Some of the notable international influences he achieved were adopting more pro-market and pro-investments, and signing free trade agreements among several countries including China.

16. He was married twice and had six children

Alan鈥檚 first wife was Carla Buscaglia, whom he married in 1978 and divorced in 1985. Together they had one daughter, Carla who is also active in Peruvian politics and married to Martin Vizcarra the current president of Peru. After the end of his first marriage, Alan got married to Pilar Nores, the former First Lady of Peru, in 1985 and separated in 2010. They had three daughters, Josefina, Gabriela, and Luciana: and one son, Alan Raul. He also had another child from an extramarital affair with economist Roxanne Cheesman.

17. He ran for the presidency of the country four times

A poster of Alan Garcia. , , via Wikimedia Commons

The former president of Peru ran for the presidential seat of the country on four different occasions. His first presidential run was in 1985, he served from 1985 to 1990. Alan became the youngest president in Peru鈥檚 history, at 36 years old. In 1990, he ran for re-election but faced a strong challenge from Alberto Fujimori. Alan ran for a presidential seat in 2001 after he returned to Peru. Unfortunately, he did not succeed, Alan faced opposition from Alejandro Toledo, who ultimately won the presidency.

In 2006, he made a successful comeback in the 2006 presidential elections, winning the presidency for the second time. His term lasted from 2006 to 2011. In 2016 he faced Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of Alberto Fujimori and the leader of the right-wing Popular Force Party, and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, a former prime minister and a centrist, in the first round. He failed for the runoff but ended up supporting Kuczynski.

18. He is a scholar

In 1978, Alan Gracia earned his diploma in sociology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP) which was a private university in Lima, Peru. He also studied at the National University of San Marcos (UNMSM) the oldest university in South America and the oldest continuously functioning university in the Americas. He earned a law degree from the university in 1971. He also studied in Madrid and 麻豆APP, where he obtained a master鈥檚 degree in sociology from the Pantheon-Sorbonne University. He was a brilliant and charismatic student who impressed his teachers and his fellow students.

19. He was given a state funeral

Citizens mourning the death of Alan Garcia. , , via Wikimedia Commons

On April 19, 2019, Alan Garcia was given a state funeral, two days after he committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. He died at the age of 69 years old at his home. The state funeral was a solemn and emotional event that was attended by thousands of people, including his family, his party members, his supporters, and his rivals. He was taken to the Plaza San Martin, with his coffin draped with the Peruvian Air Force. He received a 21-gun salute and a flyover by the Peruvian Air Force. He was laid to rest at APRA mausoleum, next to his mentor Victor Raul Haya de la Torre.

20. His legacy is shaped by both achievements and controversies

Alan Garcia鈥檚 legacy is really complex and controversial. It is marked by a mix of economic achievements, social initiatives, political controversies, and personal tragedy. When analyzing his legacy, it usually depends on someone鈥檚 perspective. Some of his supporters highlight his contributions to the economy, while critics emphasize about corruption and social inequalities.