Antonio de la Rúa
Encyclopedia
Antonio de la Rúa is the oldest son of former Argentine president, Fernando de la Rúa
(who governed Argentina from 1999 to 2001) and Inés Pertiné. He was an advisor to his father during his father's presidency and one of the heads of his father’s presidential campaign.
set" (El grupo sushi), a group of young officials so-called due to their alleged preference for expensive Japanese cuisine
; they were sometimes criticised for their influence on politics. After the collapse of the de la Rúa presidency, Antonio focused his energies on philanthropy
and distanced himself from politics
, thus marking the end of the influence of the "Sushi Group".
, was paparazzi
fodder since his father arrived at La Casa Rosada
. In 2000, he started dating singer Shakira
, in a romance that made headline news all over Latin America
. He and Shakira have been seen together at many important events, including visiting with Dominican Republic
former president Hipólito Mejía
and U.S. President Barack Obama
. In March 2001, he proposed marriage
to her. Antonio de la Rua had a key role in negotiating Shakira’s contract with Live Nation
, placing her among the most select group of artists including Madonna
, U2
and Jay-Z
. The contract, signed with the largest event producer in the world for 10 years, is worth between $70 and 100 million dollars.
On January 10, 2011, Shakira announced on her website that after 11 years together, she and de la Rúa had separated in August 2010 after making "a mutual decision to take time apart from our romantic relationship." She wrote that the couple "view this period of separation as temporary and as a time of individual growth as we continue to be partners in our business and professional lives", with de la Rúa overseeing Shakira's "business and career interests as he has always done."
n businessmen and artists founded ALAS Foundation
. Foundation ALAS is a non-profit organization
that promotes Early Childhood Development in Latin America.
Foundation ALAS has Nobel Prize
winner Gabriel García Márquez
as its Honorary President. Its founding members include Carlos Slim, Alejandro Santo Domingo, Antonio de la Rua, Alejandro Soberon, Alejandor Bulgheroni among other businessmen, and artists Shakira, Fher Olivera, Alejandro Sanz, Juan Luis Guerra and Diego Torres. On February 22, 2010, Antonio de la Rúa and Shakira were invited to the White House
where they discussed with President Barack Obama the importance of investing in Early Childhood Development Policies.
, Shakira
and Spanish singer-songwriter Alejandro Sanz
among its future residents.
Fernando de la Rúa
Fernando de la Rúa is an Argentine politician. He was president of the country from December 10, 1999 to December 21, 2001 for the Alliance for Work, Justice and Education ....
(who governed Argentina from 1999 to 2001) and Inés Pertiné. He was an advisor to his father during his father's presidency and one of the heads of his father’s presidential campaign.
Politics
Though he held no formal position in his father's government, he was the chief architect of his father's election campaign; his success led his father to continue to turn to him for political advice after his ascension to the presidency. He was pointed to as the leader of the "SushiSushi
is a Japanese food consisting of cooked vinegared rice combined with other ingredients . Neta and forms of sushi presentation vary, but the ingredient which all sushi have in common is shari...
set" (El grupo sushi), a group of young officials so-called due to their alleged preference for expensive Japanese cuisine
Japanese cuisine
Japanese cuisine has developed over the centuries as a result of many political and social changes throughout Japan. The cuisine eventually changed with the advent of the Medieval age which ushered in a shedding of elitism with the age of shogun rule...
; they were sometimes criticised for their influence on politics. After the collapse of the de la Rúa presidency, Antonio focused his energies on philanthropy
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
and distanced himself from politics
Politics of Argentina
The politics of Argentina take place in the framework of what the Constitution defines as a federal presidential representative democratic Republic, where the President of Argentina is both Head of State and Head of Government. Legislative power is vested in both the President and the two chambers...
, thus marking the end of the influence of the "Sushi Group".
Relationship with Shakira
Antonio, who is a lawyerLawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, was paparazzi
Paparazzi
Paparazzi is an Italian term used to refer to photojournalists who specialize in candid photography of celebrities, politicians, and other prominent people...
fodder since his father arrived at La Casa Rosada
Casa Rosada
La Casa Rosada is the official seat of the executive branch of the government of Argentina, and of the offices of the President. The President normally lives at the Quinta de Olivos, a compound in Olivos, Buenos Aires Province. Its characteristic color is pink, and is considered one of the most...
. In 2000, he started dating singer Shakira
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
, in a romance that made headline news all over Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. He and Shakira have been seen together at many important events, including visiting with Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
former president Hipólito Mejía
Hipólito Mejía
Rafael Hipólito Mejía Domínguez is a Dominican politician and former President of the Dominican Republic...
and U.S. President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
. In March 2001, he proposed marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
to her. Antonio de la Rua had a key role in negotiating Shakira’s contract with Live Nation
Live Nation
Live Nation is a live-events company based in Beverly Hills, California, focused on concert promotions. Live Nation formed in 2005 as a spin-off from Clear Channel Communications, which then merged with Ticketmaster in 2010 to become Live Nation Entertainment....
, placing her among the most select group of artists including Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
and Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
. The contract, signed with the largest event producer in the world for 10 years, is worth between $70 and 100 million dollars.
On January 10, 2011, Shakira announced on her website that after 11 years together, she and de la Rúa had separated in August 2010 after making "a mutual decision to take time apart from our romantic relationship." She wrote that the couple "view this period of separation as temporary and as a time of individual growth as we continue to be partners in our business and professional lives", with de la Rúa overseeing Shakira's "business and career interests as he has always done."
ALAS
In December 2006 Antonio de la Rua together with a group of prominent Latin AmericaLatin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
n businessmen and artists founded ALAS Foundation
ALAS Foundation
ALAS is a movement dedicated to the children in Latin America. The non-profit organisation is founded by Latin America's most influential artists, intellectuals and business leaders, and strives to launch a new social movement that will generate a collective commitment to comprehensive Early...
. Foundation ALAS is a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
that promotes Early Childhood Development in Latin America.
Foundation ALAS has Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
winner Gabriel García Márquez
Gabriel García Márquez
Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez is a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo throughout Latin America. He is considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in...
as its Honorary President. Its founding members include Carlos Slim, Alejandro Santo Domingo, Antonio de la Rua, Alejandro Soberon, Alejandor Bulgheroni among other businessmen, and artists Shakira, Fher Olivera, Alejandro Sanz, Juan Luis Guerra and Diego Torres. On February 22, 2010, Antonio de la Rúa and Shakira were invited to the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
where they discussed with President Barack Obama the importance of investing in Early Childhood Development Policies.
Bonds Cay
Antonio de la Rua owns and develops a 700 acres (2.8 km²) Bahamian island called Bonds Cay. The island has Pink Floyd's Roger WatersRoger Waters
George Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
, Shakira
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
and Spanish singer-songwriter Alejandro Sanz
Alejandro Sanz
Alejandro Sanz , is a Spanish singer-songwriter and musician. For his work, Sanz has won a total of fifteen Latin Grammy Awards and three Grammy Awards. He has won the Latin Grammy for Album of the Year three times, more than any other artist...
among its future residents.