Antonio Álvarez Desanti

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Antonio Álvarez Desanti, usually known simply as Antonio Álvarez, is a politician with the Union for Change Party (UPC) in Costa Rica. He was the party's candidate in the upcoming 2006 presidential election. Álvarez collected 2.44% of the votes.

Antonio was born in San José on July 6, 1958 to Dr. Isaías Álvarez Alfaro and Dora Desanti Arce. Its infancy elapses in Vasconia Neighborhood, along with his two older sisters. It initiates its primary studies in the School Calasanz where, under the teachings of the escolapian fathers.

In recent years of the secondary one discovers its interest by the politics and with a group of companions tries to gain the student elections, which loses for two consecutive years. Despite this discovers with humility the fortresses of the teamwork and the virtues of the democratic procedures , leaving this experience an indelible track in its character.

During this same phase, is born in it a curiosity by the study of the laws. It is at this time, while studies its fifth year of the school, where begins to work as an assistant in the law practice of its uncle Jorge Desanti in its law practice.

Once graduate of the school enters to the career of Law in the University of Costa Rica where continues with its work of legal assistant. Due to its commitment with the academic work, Antonio had the opportunity to participate in the first team that sent the Faculty of Law the XXI Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.

In 1977 while it studies the second year of University, contracts marriage with it Atty. Livia Mesa, with whom 4 years later, has its first daughter, Adriana, in May of 1980. The union is dissolved a year later and the good relation that have maintained both, has permitted them to watch for the welfare and the formation of its daughter.

In 1979 Antonio is chosen Student Representative before the University Counsel, where gives important fights to obtain just costs of registration and to fortify the programs of student welfare. With this antecedent in the student movement, is chosen President of the Confederacy of Students of the University of Costa Rica (FEUCR) in 1980.

Comply Antonio advances in its career of Law, goes developing in the country business. In 1978, Antonio founds a small financial business and in 1980 a business dedicated to the sowing of the peanut and al process of packing and distribution of the product tostado. This activity was expanded then to other related products , like the seed of marañón. In 1981 it is dedicated also to the production of shoes for the sale and its distribution in the domestic market.

In 1981 it graduates as Attorney at Law, and while exercises like lawyer, is appointed for the campaign of Luis Alberto Monge as National Treasurer of the Youth Liberacionista.

In 1983 contracts marriage with it Nuria Marín Raventós, with whom has a daughter, Andrea, in 1986.

In 1985, President of the Republic Luis Alberto Monge names him President of Fertica. Since that position he inaugurates a plant of fertilizers in Lemon, located strategically to supply the Atlantic zone. He enlarges the programs of technical aid for small and medium producing. In November he is named Executive President of the National Counsel of Production, charge in which remains also during the administration Arias Sánchez. During that period, the Counsel achieves an important decrease of its deficit, some activities are transferred to the workers by means of privatization of services and is oriented to the institution toward the strengthening of the productive politics of basic grains, directed exclusively to medium and small producing.

On May 1, 1987, Óscar Arias names him Minister of Agriculture and Cattle. During its period prompts the agriculture of change for the purpose of diversifying and to transform the national production in export of new markets search. Also it initiates the program of reactivation of the stockbreeding to elevate the productivity cattle raiser of the country , and is put in practice a program of technical aid tied al credit, for the purpose of tie every operation of financing with the technological transfer and to improve with it the national productivity.

In 1988 it is named Minister of Government and Police, being emphasized in this accounts receivable by its firm battle against the drug trafficking, whose more prominent fact was the foundation and Financing of the CICAD (Central of Joint Intelligence Anti Drugs). This fact permitted to convert to Costa Rica in an ally of the international antidrug police and to improve notably the management of information on the moving of drugs and the money laundering. Additionally it fortifies the antidrug national police, endowing it of instruction, instruments and team. Besides it managed to develop important actions against international gangsters that were found in our country. During its management also supports the modernization of the National Press, as well as the National Program of Communal Development.

Al to finalize the government of Arias, the family Álvarez itself mute to the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, to carry out its studies of graduate. Antonio obtains a Masters Degree in International Tax Lwas and its wife Nuria in International Politics, both in the prestigious University of Harvard.

In 1991 it assumes the Sub Headquarters of campaign of José María Figueres. During the management as the President of the Republic, Antonio is performed like representative and in 1995 becomes President of the Legislative Assembly. As the legislator is emphasized for giving a crucial impulse to important laws as the "Law against the sexual harassment" among others.

In the Convention Liberacionista carried out June 3, 2001, Antonio is advanced like presidential preliminary candidate obtaining excellent results al final of the combat.

After the August 2004 Distrital Elections, Antonio decided to leave Partido Liberación Nacional. A few months later, he founded Unión para el Cambio, a socaldemocratic party based on his leadership. On January 4, 2006, presented his Plan for Government on which made a social justice statement as the base for his plan. This last month of campaign, before de 2006 General election, he plans to go all around the country with activities that he has called "Festival of Change". On the latest polls, his considered third runner up just behind Oscar Arias Sánchez (Partido Liberación Nacional), Ottón Solís Fallas (Partido Acción Ciudadana) and Otto Guevara Guth (Partido Movimiento Libertario).