Elisa Carrió
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Elisa María Avelina Carrió (born 1956) is an Argentine politician, founder of the center-left Alternative for a Republic of Equals party (ARI).
Born in the province of Chaco in a traditional family, Carrió was appointed a prosecutor during the last military dictatorship, known as the National Reorganization Process (1976-1983). After the return of democracy, she became a deputy for her province in the Radical Civic Union (UCR).
Asked by her mentor, Raúl Alfonsín, she campaigned heavily for Fernando de la Rúa in 1999, although she was part of the left wing of the party and De la Rúa was leader of the right-wing faction.
As De la Rúa's government took a definite turn to the right, after the breaking of the coalition with the Socialists and FrePaSo in 2000, Carrió formed turned to the Democratic Socialist Party and other politicians with left leanings who were discontented in their parties, and formed an informal front, initially called "Argentinians for a Republic of Equals" (Argentinos por una República de Iguales), ARI. After dissensions, the socialists left, and so did Carrió and other personalities from their original parties and together formed a party, Alternative for a Republic of Equals (also ARI).
In the 2003 elections, Carrió was candidate for her party, obtaining fifth place with about 14% of the votes (the votes were scattered; the first-turn winner, Carlos Menem, only got 24%, but stepped down before the runoff). In 2005, Carrió was reelected as deputy for the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires.
