Irwing Diaz Bently

**Irwing Diaz Bently Izharfa** (born 29 September, 1950) is an Alconbrian politician and an opposition leader currently living in exile in Altivebrio. Diaz is the leader of the Democratic Reform Party (PRD) since 2008, and was previously a member of the Maldekstro Party. He served as the Secretary of Economy from 1992 till 1996 under Javier Morales, and the Secretary of Transport from 1996 till 2001 under Rafael Fuenmayor.

He was controversially disqualified as a member of the Léialegis by the Supreme Court of Alconbria for engaging in vote manipulation, despite no evidence being presented. He was subsequently arrested and sentenced to six counts of life imprisonment in a show trial. He was freed from imprisonment by a rebel faction of the prison police during the 2007 coup d'état attempt, and he fled to Altivebrio a year later where he was granted political asylum. In Altivebrio, he launched the Democratic Reform Party with other Alconbrian exiles and political prisoners and vowed to bring down the regime of Augustin Voimer. In response, he was placed on top of Alconbria's most wanted list.

## Biography

A highly influential politician, Diaz secured the highest vote share in the 1996 elections and at one point was considered as Fuenmayor's successor as Prime Minister. Diaz was appointed as the Deputy Leader of the Maldesktro Party in 1999. However despite his popularity among his electorate, he was sidelined by the Maldekstro Party in favor of Victor Staurakios after losing his legislative assembly place in the 2001 elections. Despite not having a place in the Léialegis, Diaz still had a loud political voice and would frequently attack the APP-led government in the media.

In 2003, he was elected as the Mayor of Los Guez after winning 86% of the votes. This proved embarrassing to the APP, as it was hometown of President Ernesto Titeriez. Diaz earned a reputation of transparent and honest governance, despite lack of support from the police, judiciary and the federal government. He became a target of political violence, and survived numerous attacks from the right-wing paramilitaries; including one on his birthday. On 8 June 2004, he was shot by a gunman while addressing a rally in Alcacer. Diaz survived, and blamed the attack on Titeriez, calling him a "coward". He was subsequently arrested by the police for libel, but was released two weeks later.

He resigned as the Mayor of Los Guez after winning his seat in the 2005 elections. However, he was controversially disqualified from his position by the Supreme Court of Alconbria after it was reported without evidence that he engaged in vote fraud. Diaz denied the allegations, and went on an indefinite hunger strike in front of the Aulo Esmiene in New Alcacer. Diaz opposed the Constituent National Assembly of Alconbria during the 2005 Alconbrian constitutional crisis. He was arrested by the Policia Civil during his hunger strike after he said the people to not trust the Constituent Assembly. He was booked for contempt of court, homicide, conspiracy, corruption and sexual assault. He was found guilty for all charges except for homicide, and was sentenced to life imprisonment in a politically motivated sham trial. He was declared a dangerous individual by Supreme Court judge Elsie Jones-Porter, and was sent to ultra-maximum security prison K1 Uzapo. The Government of Alconbria began erasing Diaz from government and private records, and the Federal Electoral Directorate threatened the Maldesktro Party with de recognition if it doesn't distance itself from Diaz.

During the 2007 Alconbrian coup d'état attempt, an anti-Titieriez faction of the police rescued Diaz from K1 Uzapo. Diaz reunited with his family inside the Altivebrian embassy in New Alcacer. After spending a year in the embassy, Diaz orchestrated an escape to Altivebrio with help from the SNI. In Altivebrio, he established the Democratic Reform Party, the AACC and the AFTLA. After the 2009 Alconbrian humanitarian crisis, the AFTLA and the Supreme Court of Alconbria in exile published a list of over 500 people who are to be tried for crimes against humanity including Ernesto Titeriez and Augustin Voimer.