Salinas de Gortari, << suh LEE nuhs day gawr TAHR ee, >> Carlos (1948-…), was president of Mexico from 1988 to 1994. Salinas belongs to the Institutional Revolutionary Party. He succeeded Miguel de la Madrid Hurtado as president. A specialist in economics, Salinas served as secretary of planning and budget in de la Madrid’s Cabinet from 1982 to 1987.
As president, Salinas took steps to modernize Mexico’s economy, including the sale of hundreds of government-owned companies. He also promoted the establishment of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), an economic union among Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
Salinas was born on April 3, 1948, in Mexico City. He earned a bachelor’s degree at the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 1969. He later earned two master’s degrees and a doctor’s degree from Harvard University. Before becoming a Cabinet member, he worked for several federal financial agencies.
