Arzú, Irigoyen Alvaro (1947- )

Guatemalan politician, president 1996-1999. He served briefly as minister of foreign affairs in 1991, before resigning to become secretary general of the National Advancement Party (PAN). As the country's president, he concluded a peace agreement with the left-wing Guatemalan National Unity (URNG) guerrilla movement, ending 36 years of civil war, and granted amnesty for all human rights violations during the conflict.

A successful businessman, Arzú was mayor of Guatemala City 1985-90. In 1990 he stood (unsuccessfully) as presidential candidate for the right-of-centre PAN.

Arzú won the presidency in January 1996 in the second round run-off elections, defeating his Republican Front opponent.