Elisa Carrio

Topics: Argentine ARI politicians, Argentine deputies, Argentine presidential candidates, Argentine Radical Civic Union politicians

Elisa Maria Avelina Carrio (born 1956) is an Argentine politician, founder of the party initially known as Alternative for a Republic of Equals , now Support for an Egalitarian Republic (Afirmacion para una Republica Igualitaria).

Born in the province of Chaco in a traditional family, Carrio was a former teenage beauty queen who was later appointed a prosecutor during the last military dictatorship, known as the National Reorganization Process (19761983). After the return of democracy, she was elected to the Chamber of Deputies for her province, representing the Radical Civic Union (UCR).

After the breaking of the coalition with the Socialists and the Front for a Country in Solidarity (FrePaSo) in 2000, Carrio 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 Republica de Iguales), ARI. After dissensions, the socialists left, and so did Carrio and other personalities from their original parties. Together, they formed a new party, called Alternative for a Republic of Equals (also ARI).