Álvaro Serrano Paek
Don Álvaro Serrano Paek | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait 2022 | |
| 2nd President of the Serenacy of Carinansia | |
| In office June 25, 2021 – June 24, 2029 | |
| Vice President | Ah-Wink-Ir-Masa Tafalla (2021-2025) Irene Águila Carrasco (2025-2029) |
| Preceded by | Xiutecuhtli Cárintecatl |
| Succeeded by | Fabian Xandinho Carrasco |
| Vice President of Carinansia | |
| In office June 25, 2017 – June 24, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Inhué Dengra |
| Succeeded by | Ah-Wink-Ir-Masa Tafalla |
| Governor of Tlanukoy | |
| In office April 12, 2014 – April 12, 2017 | |
| Lieutenant | Ivan Rubio |
| Preceded by | Jorge Batista Zanetti |
| Succeeded by | Hilda Brito |
| Senator of Mangulak | |
| In office January 1, 2010 – January 1, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Matteo Silveira |
| Succeeded by | Elis Vidal |
| Mangulak State Senator | |
| In office February 22, 2008 – December 31, 2009 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 13, 1970 Reydacay, Mangulak |
| Died | April 13, 2061 (aged 90) Ixtapulco, Mangulak |
| Citizenship | Carinansian Kangsuan (surrendered in 2020) |
| Political party | Party for the Cárinansian Revolution |
| Spouse | Yatzil Serrano (m. 1994) |
| Children | María Serrano Javier Serrano Pauk'Ar Serrano |
| Parents |
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| Alma mater | Alhawa Military School (B.S.) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Carinansia |
| Branch/service | Army |
| Years of service | 1990-2007 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | 13th Mountain Battalion |
| Battles/wars | 1999 Tertana Border Incident 2005 Battle of Guajeres 2005 Battle of Venaras |
| Awards | Order of the Liberator General Cárintecatl |
Álvaro Serrano Paek (13 July 1970 – 13 April 2061), known simply as Serrano Paek, or "the Reformer", was the 2nd Carinansian president who served from 2021 until 2029. He was the first president to be elected via internationally-certified free and fair elections, and the first of partial Kangsuan descent. An accomplished major in the Armed Forces, he fought in the 2005 Valoran Border War, leading the 13th Mountain Regiment to victory at the Battle of Guajeres for which he would receive the Order of the Liberator General Cárintecatl. He is considered among the most prominent centrist political figures in Carinansian history.
After the end of the War, he retired as one of the country's foremost experts on mountain combat and logistics, entering a career in politics in 2010 after successfully being elected as a State Senator in Mangulak, becoming a Senator in the National Congress in 2012, and Governor of Tlanukoy in 2016., remaining in the position until President Cárintecatl personally nominated him to replace him as the PRC frontrunner in the 2021 presidential elections, winning with 54.7% of the popular vote and being especially popular amongst the La Plata states. As president of the Serenacy, he enacted extensive economic reform to revitalise the country's economy, leading to the beginning of the decades long Carinansian economic miracle in 2026 which led to the country becoming the most productive economy in the world, and saw a massive rise in the standards of living.
During his presidency, he again oversaw the outbreak of hostilities with Valora via the 2023 Vascara War, which led to extensive damage in the North but ultimately led to the Carinansian military occupying the entirety of Valora and later annexing it under the successive presidency of Xandinho Carrasco. He left office with approval ratings of over 70%, praised internationally for efficiently managing the country in his two terms in office. He left office in 2029, citing health reasons and a desire for diverse leadership, immediately withdrawing into private life.
His final years were spent out of public politics, focusing on assisting with various non profit organisations that aimed to build housing for the homeless, and reduce fossil fuel usage. His will outlined his wishes to be buried in a private funeral and among those lost in the Vascara War without extensive public affair, but his death was marked with a nationwide period of mourning and a military parade through Nojawa, and a procession in Tlajoyotl in his honour. Over three centuries later, he is still remembered very favourably. Political scholars consistently rank him among the top 3 presidents in Carinansian history.
Early Life and career
Álvaro Enrique Serrano Paek was born on July 13, 1970, in the Parlopolis General Hospital in Reydacay, Mangulak, to an Amalges father, and a Kangsuan-Guerian mother. His father, Henriques Serrano Macedo, was a labourer at the Itabaia Industrial Facility for NTS S.A. His mother was a nurse for the National Medical Service from its inception in 1969. They met in late 1966 in Reydacay; his father had recently left Oligi in the March of Tears, and his mother had sought asylum in the country in January as a political dissident in Monteguerias.
Shortly after his birth, his father co-founded Serrano y Pomar, S.A., an industrial production company. Using a small loan as well as his accumulated life savings, he purchased a small factory in the Anteropolis district. In 1996, it became the largest industrial corporation in the city.
From an early age, he received education from his father regarding industry, seeking to involve him in the business. In 1987, he received a military scholarship to attend Alhawa Military University, for his exemplary physical and written scores. Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Science, he registered in the Serene Armed Forces as an officer cadet.
Military career
Once he completed a year of training, he became a Junior Lieutenant in the 7th All-Cárinansian Infantry Battalion, being deployed to guard the border with Valorá. After years of no incidents, he received direct orders from Col. Atenas to deal with Valorán bandits, and briefly occupied the Tertana Complex in the Republic with the 13th Mountain Infantry Company. While returning to the Serenacy, the 3rd Vascara Division of Valorá confronted the unit of 250 soldiers. After communicating the purpose of entry and intent to leave, a standoff between the two began. After dark, they quickly escaped through the narrow San Jucambe Mountain Pass back to the country. A diplomatic incident emerged, and Serrano was brought before a court-martial, but ultimately exonerated of any wrongdoing.
After this took place, he was transferred to the Platencia border. Over the next 4 years, he became a Major and he was given command of the 11th Mountain Armoured Cavalry Squadron. In the 2005 Valorá Border War, he led the encirclement operation at the Battle of Guajeres, ultimately leading to the surrender of 20 thousand Valorán soldiers.
Post-military life
For his military service, he received the Order of the Liberator General Cárintecatl in 2007 after the conclusion of the war. He received an honourable discharge in 2009, living in Tulancan when he was elected State Senator the following year. He remained in the position for only two years, as in 2012 he was elected to the National Congress representing Mangulak. At the end of his term, he moved to Penbaro, Tlanukoy, declaring himself a candidate for Governor. Despite joining the campaign race so late, he won in a second special election with 50.8% of the vote. He introduced clean drinking water, while beginning an extensive anti-corruption program, which he would later replicate during his presidency. During his five year term, he faced no political scandals.
Presidency
While President, he quickly began several military buildup schemes to combat the growing Valorán threat following the 2021 ratification of the Vascara Act in the Valorán Congress. With a fleet of new tanks, artillery, and defenses established, he deployed 300 thousand total soldiers to the border region. Anticipating a military invasion, he withdrew the Carinansian chargé d'affaires from the Kangsuan embassy in Valorá and issued a general travel advisory to Carinansians to not visit the country.
On 12 February 2023, a Valorán bombing of the defensive lines was quickly followed by an incursion with 120 thousand Valorán soldiers, 60 thousand via the Tolejoz Mountain Pass, 40 thousand via the Origovia Mountain Pass, and 20 thousand via Navarual Valley. Although the units passing through Tolejoz were mostly killed before engaging with any Carinansian units, the other two units successfully seized several towns. In response, he levied some of the border soldiers to prevent their continued assaults, while also establishing a complete naval blockade and restricting Carinansian airspace to any vessels registered in Valorá.
By October 23 of that year, Valorán soldiers had successfully occupied large swathes of northwestern Platencia and northeastern Haiyato, and they managed to even occupy provinces in Haxith, Tlanukoy, and Mangulak by 2024. He faced heavy opposition from the PTC for supposed incompetence in managing the war, but the unilateral support of the PRC. Consequently, he mobilised tens of thousands of reserve soldiers, and the tide of the war shifted by the end of the year, when Valorá only retained a couple of villages in Haiyato, while Carinansia had occupied several large cities including Matagoza, and Tabria. Rhetoric in the National Congress had shifted to the complete destruction of Valorá and wholly backing Serrano, and by late 2027, the southern two-thirds of the country were occupied, with the exception of the capital city of San Esteban, which was being sieged. La Enstel in the north was also occupied, following successful naval landings.
By March 2028, fighting had concluded as Valorá was under complete Carinansian military occupation. It remained that way, while allowing a puppet government to function, until 2033, when it was formally annexed by the Serenacy. It was once fighting concluded that he began to negotiate the establishment of a Suroikoian Union with Kangsu, Monteguerias, and Aparicia, establishing the organisation a couple months before leaving office.
In the 2029 PRC Primaries, he abstained from endorsing any candidate for the presidency, publicly stating he did not seek to taint the democratic process. It was only following the party's nomination of Mangulak Governor Fabian Xandinho Carrasco that he gave him his public endorsement, and gave two speeches throughout the campaign cycle supporting him. Generally, he opposed the use of the incumbent president to advocate for any specific candidate, as he claimed it boosted polarisation.
Vascara War
Political reform
While President, he passed several pieces of legislation and constitutional amendments protecting political speech, which at times had been violated during the Carintecatl Administration. He eliminated the internet firewall in 2025, and expanded penalties for police brutality, accepting bribes, and political repression, greatly expanding Serene oversight on police affairs. Operation Vikaer saw the conviction of 31 national senators, 65 state legislators, and 3 state governors. Operation Seguricia resulted in the arrest of 2358 police officers, 41 police chiefs, 13 police commissioners, and 2 chief inspectors for charges relating to accepting bribes and police brutality.
He also expanded the National Medical Service to be free at the point of delivery and wholly universal. The bottom 10% of earners did not contribute to National Health Insurance, while the top 5% of earners contributed 45% of the agency's total tax revenue by 2033, via the 2023 National Health Act. In the 2028 Economic Restoration Act, the government increased taxes on the highly-profitable agricultural exports to 40% of profits, and increased industrial taxation to 20% of total profits, while also establishing a mechanism to grant subsidies to these entities when deemed necessary. Revenue from these taxes would, in part, be used to construct new housing complexes for returning veterans in Najolk, and Nuevo Paraiso, as well as cheap housing in these areas, and Tlanukoy, for the homeless.
Additionally, he was responsible for several anti-cronyism bills, seeking to eliminate the influence of corporations on the government. He introduced strict financial reporting standards for all national-level politicians in the Serenacy, criminalised donations from corporate entities to government officials, while also establishing stringent requirements for specialised politicians to be highly-knowledgeable in their fields; in essence, establishing a meritocratic system of governance. The Financial Transparency Act 2026 required all politicians in the country to publish their tax returns at the beginning of every year they were in office.