Alfredo Avelín
Encyclopedia
Alfredo Avelín is an Argentine politician, physician and author. He served as Governor of his province of San Juan
and as a member of the Argentine Senate
and Chamber of Deputies
.
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. Entering politics, he founded the Renewal Crusade
party. 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.
On 16 May 1999, Avelín was elected as governor of his province with 55%, heading the list of the Alliance for Work, Justice and Education
, which would win the presidency of Argentina later the same year. 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.
Following the downfall of the government of President de la Rua
, Avelín was a fierce opponent of the austerity measures proposed by the International Monetary Fund
, saying, "The only thing lacking for us is to pull down the Argentine flag and replace it with the IMF's." In 2002, Avelín was impeached and deposed as governor by a majority of provincial deputies following massive demonstrations.
Avelín considered running again for the governorship in 2007 against the incumbent, José Luis Gioja
. His daughter, Nancy Avelín, who also served as a senator, was eventually the candidate for the Renewal Crusade that year.
San Juan Province (Argentina)
San Juan is a province of Argentina, located in the western part of the country. Neighbouring provinces are, moving clockwise from the north, La Rioja, San Luis and Mendoza. It borders with Chile at the west....
and as a member of the Argentine Senate
Argentine Senate
The Argentine Senate is the upper house of the Argentine National Congress. It has 72 senators: three for each province and three for the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires...
and Chamber of Deputies
Argentine Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Argentine National Congress. This Chamber holds exclusive rights to create taxes, to draft troops, and to accuse the President, the ministers and the members of the Supreme Court before the Senate....
.
Avelín was born in San Juan Province to parents of Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
descent. He earned a medical degree at the University of Córdoba
National University of Córdoba
The National University of Córdoba, , is the oldest university in Argentina, and one of the oldest in the Americas. It is located in Córdoba, the capital of Córdoba Province. Since the early 20th century it has been the second largest university in the country in terms of the number of students,...
, and later founded the Colegio Médico de la Provincia. Entering politics, he founded the Renewal Crusade
Renewal Crusade
The Renewal Crusade is a center-left political party in San Juan Province, Argentina.The party was founded by Alfredo Avelín who would represent the party as Mayor of San Juan City and as national deputy and senator until 1999. In that year, Avelín was elected as Governor of San Juan heading an...
party. He became Mayor of the provincial capital, San Juan
San Juan, Argentina
San Juan is the capital city of the Argentine province of San Juan in the Cuyo region, located in the Tulúm Valley, west of the San Juan River, at above mean sea level, with a population of around 112,000 as per the ....
, in 1958, and at the age of 31.
He was ultimately elected to the Argentine Chamber of Deputies
Argentine Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Argentine National Congress. This Chamber holds exclusive rights to create taxes, to draft troops, and to accuse the President, the ministers and the members of the Supreme Court before the Senate....
in 1989, and to the Argentine Senate
Argentine Senate
The Argentine Senate is the upper house of the Argentine National Congress. It has 72 senators: three for each province and three for the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires...
, in 1992.
On 16 May 1999, Avelín was elected as governor of his province with 55%, heading the list of the Alliance for Work, Justice and Education
Alliance for Work, Justice and Education
The Alliance for Work, Justice and Education was a party coalition in Argentina around the turn of the third millennium...
, which would win the presidency of Argentina later the same year. 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.
Following the downfall of the government of President de la Rua
Fernando de la Rúa
Fernando de la Rúa is an Argentine politician. He was president of the country from December 10, 1999 to December 21, 2001 for the Alliance for Work, Justice and Education ....
, Avelín was a fierce opponent of the austerity measures proposed by the International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
, saying, "The only thing lacking for us is to pull down the Argentine flag and replace it with the IMF's." In 2002, Avelín was impeached and deposed as governor by a majority of provincial deputies following massive demonstrations.
Avelín considered running again for the governorship in 2007 against the incumbent, José Luis Gioja
José Luis Gioja
José Luis Gioja is an Argentine Justicialist Party politician, current governor of San Juan Province and former President of the Argentine Senate....
. His daughter, Nancy Avelín, who also served as a senator, was eventually the candidate for the Renewal Crusade that year.