Born at Argamasilla de Alba in Ciudad Real Province, Lara, the son of a truck driver, has spent most of his life there.

At the age of 13, he abandoned his studies to help support his family, having several jobs, until returning from his military service where he established his own farm.

At that time, he was known for his defence of the Mayor of Seseña in Toledo and Party colleague Manuel Fuentes against building enterpeur Francisco Hernando, el Pocero, for the alleged corruption charges in that municipality.

One around the leadership and the majority of the membership of the Communist Party of Spain, one formed by the membership closer to the positions of Gaspar Llamazares, and a third one formed by the leaderships of Madrid, Aragon and Catalonia (with the Communist Party of Catalonia being prominent) was called the N-II (after the road that joins these territories).

Lara, a member of the first group, and considered a moderate communist by the press,[3] was chosen in October 2008 by the Federal Committee of PCE as the party's candidate to lead the list for the leadership election in the subsequent assembly, along with several other internal allies.