He completed his school studies at the Colegio Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in Lima.
In the party, he was Secretary of the Organization of the Aprista Guadalupana Youth (1947) as well as a member of the National Executive Committee, Secretary General of the National Association of Aprista Engineers and Architects.
On August 28, 1985, Salinas assumed as Minister of the Interior during the First Government of Alan García, he held the position until June 17, 1987.
On June 27, 1987, he was appointed Minister of Energy and Mines by former President Alan García.
After that, more "paquetazos" would be applied in his management, trying to give a remedy to the economic crisis.