| “ | These days, all it takes for your dreams to come true is money and power. | „ |
| ~ President Shinra |
President Shinra is the president of the Shinra Electric Power Company and a major antagonist in Final Fantasy VII. He plays a relatively short supporting role and isn't seen very often. President Shinra has two sons, Rufus Shinra and Lazard Deusericus (illegitimate), both of them were made high-ranking executives in Shinra.
History
Before Crisis - Final Fantasy VII
President Shinra makes his first appearance in Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII-. He is first seen by the player Turk in Junon where he is giving a speech. The eco-terrorist group, AVALANCHE attacks. The president escapes, but is shot by the AVALANCHE scientist Fuhito. He survives and calls in Sephiroth to attack the AVALANCHE commande, Elfé.
Later, President Shinra begins to suspect there is a traitor within Shinra. This thought is fueled by his son, Rufus, who suggestst the same. The president wrongfully accuses the Turk leader, Veld, and replaces him with Shinra's incompetent military head, Heidegger, for a mission based in Junon to eradicate AVALANCHE. Heidegger's position as the Turk leader proves to be temporary, as the President replaces him with Veld, after Heidegger's strategy at Junon almost destroys the entire city and Veld blackmails President Shinra with classified information.
President Shinra would later find out that the real Shinra traitor is his own son Rufus, who had been funding AVALANCHE in order to have his father killed so he would be able to take over the company. The Turks capture and use Rufus as leverage with President Shinra so that they can save their commander Veld, and his daughter, Elfé, AVALANCHE's commander. Rufus is neither killed nor stripped of his title despite being a traitor. President Shinra merely orders him to be placed under house-arrest in Junon. Rufus's absence is explained by claiming that he is on an "extended assignment overseas".
Final Fantasy VII
President Shinra is first seen during AVALANCHE's attack on the Sector 5 Mako Reactor. Having foreseen the attack, he has prepared an ambush. He engages in a short conversation with Cloud, before he sets Air Buster on them and leaves by helicopter. During the Shinra Headquarters infiltration, the party overhears a conversation between Shinra and some of his top executives, including Heidegger and Professor Hojo. He plans to leave Sector 7, which the Turks destroyed as a counter-attack to finish off AVALANCHE. The party meets the president again in person when they are brought before him after being captured while trying to escape with Aeris. After a brief conversation the President sends the party away to be locked up.
President Shinra is encountered one more time when the party arrives at his office, where he lies impaled by a large sword. Palmer, who was hidden during the assault, claimed that it was Sephiroth who killed him. After his death, Rufus takes his place as president of Shinra.
