[1] A member of the Vertiente Artiguista–Broad Front, he also served as minister of Housing, Territorial Planning and Environment from 2005 to 2008, and as senator of the Republic from 1990 to 1994 and again from 2008 to 2010.

[2] Son and grandson of Spanish immigrants, Arana attended the Lycée Français de Montevideo and was a graduate of the Faculty of Architecture of the University of the Republic.

On the latter subject is his latest book, written jointly with Prof. Oscar Destouet, entitled 5 Vertientes de la Izquierda (5 Slopes of the Left), which is a compilation of information from publications of five leading thinkers of the Uruguayan left: Oscar Bruschera (history teacher), Peter Seré (lawyer, consultant of Liber Seregni), Reina Reyes (teacher), Mario Kaplun (communicator) and Hector Rodriguez (trade unionist, member of the guild of tailors).

When Tabaré Vázquez assumed the presidency in 2005, he was appointed Minister of Housing, Territorial Planning and Environment, accompanied by his colleague, undersecretary Jaime Igorra.

Arana also served as a Councillor for the Montevideo Departmental Junta up until his death, after being dropped from the charge of Minister of Housing, Territorial Planning and Environment.