Background
Avelín was born in San Juan Province to parents of Lebanese descent.
Avelín was born in San Juan Province to parents of Lebanese descent.
He earned a medical degree at the University of Córdoba, and later founded the Colegio Médico de la Provincia. He became Mayor of the provincial capital, San Juan, in 1958, and at the age of 31. He was ultimately elected to the Argentine Chamber of Deputies in 1989, and to the Argentine Senate, in 1992.
He defeated the incumbent Governor, Jorge Escobar.
His period in office was marked by economic turbulence and public unrest in San Juan, not unlike the country as a whole. By 2001, provincial employees were not being paid, and the province was insolvent.
Avelín considered running again for the governorship in 2007 against the incumbent, José Luis Gioja. Alfredo Avelín died on 26 January 2012.
Entering politics, he founded the Renewal Crusade party.
He served as Governor of his province of San Juan and as a member of the Argentine Senate and Chamber of Deputies.