Cristiani Burkard, Alfredo (1947– )

El Salvadorean right-wing politician, president 1989–94. He negotiated, in December 1991, an end to the 12-year-long civil war with the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMNL) socialist guerrilla movement. In 1992 he settled a border dispute with Honduras.

Born in San Salvador, Cristiani studied at Georgetown University, USA. The head of the coffee producers' association, he was taken hostage by anti-government guerrillas in 1980 during the country's civil war. This spurred him into political activity, and he joined the right-wing National Republican Alliance (ARENA). He became ARENA's leader, after the defeat of Robert d'Aubuisson by José Napoleón Duarte in the 1984 presidential election, and led the party to success in assembly elections in 1988.