Amadeo Sabattini
Encyclopedia
Amadeo Tomás Sabattini was an Argentine
politician. He served as Governor of Córdoba
from May 17, 1936, to May 17, 1940.
Born in Buenos Aires
and the son of Italian immigrants
from the Piedmont
region, Sabattini enrolled at the National University of Córdoba
and graduated with a Medical Degree in 1919, becoming affiliated to the centrist Radical Civic Union
(UCR) – the party in power in Argentina at the time. A staunch opponent of the 1930 coup d'état that unseated populist UCR President Hipólito Yrigoyen
, Sabattini went underground and participated in numerous potests, some violent, before an agreement between Conservative President Agustín Justo and the leader of the UCR, former President Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear
, resulted in the lifting of a UCR electoral boycott in effect since the fraud-ridden 1931 elections
. In this framework, Sabattini was elected Governor of the important Province of Córdoba
in 1936.
A supporter of much of President Yrigoyen's 1916 platform
, including liberalization of the universities and the establishment of State enterprises, Sabattini initiated several hydroelectric dams and supported the creation of numerous industrial zones in his then-agrarian province. He extended assistance to his province's needy and to small business, while prosecuting hitherto rampant graft and limiting the Catholic Church's input in school curricula, earning him the enmity of that influential institution.
The Governor retired to his modest home in Villa María and in 1940, though he was inelegible for reelection per the provincial constitution, his UCR was returned to power that year, electing Governor Santiago del Castillo. Sabattini's electoral and judicial reforms, as well as Córdoba Province conservatives' unwillingness to participate in the prevailing system of "patriotic fraud," prevented the nation's ruling party (the Concordance) from seizing the Governorship.
Sabattini became a supporter of many of the social reforms advanced by Labor Minister Juan Perón
, following a coup d'état against the conservatives in 1943. Perón offered Sabattini the Vice-Presidential slot on his Labor Party ticket, ahead of the February 1946 elections
. The popular Córdoba lawmaker declined, however, instead creating a "Intransigent and Renewal Movement", opossing to presdident Perón but also to the right wing of Radical Party. Around 1952 he begin a pragmatic alliance with other oppossing groups, after the increasingly autocratic Perón's seizure of a number of critical newspapers and his detention of prominent opponents. This will lead to a coup of 1955. Following this, Sabattini allied himself with the moderately conservative Ricardo Balbín
, whose mainstream UCR (the UCR-P) was defeated by the splinter UCRI's Arturo Frondizi
when the exiled Perón endorsed him ahead of the February 1958 elections
.
Living in solitude and nearly penniless, Sabattini died in Villa María
in 1960, at age 67.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
politician. He served as Governor of Córdoba
Governor of Córdoba
This is a list of the Governors of Córdoba. The Governor of the Argentine province of Córdoba is the highest executive officer of the province.-See also:*Politics of Argentina*Córdoba Province...
from May 17, 1936, to May 17, 1940.
Born in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
and the son of Italian immigrants
Italian Argentine
An Italian Argentine is a person born in Argentina of Italian ancestry. It is estimated up to 25 million Argentines have some degree of Italian descent...
from the Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
region, Sabattini enrolled at the National 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 graduated with a Medical Degree in 1919, becoming affiliated to the centrist Radical Civic Union
Radical Civic Union
The Radical Civic Union is a political party in Argentina. The party's positions on issues range from liberal to social democratic. The UCR is a member of the Socialist International. Founded in 1891 by radical liberals, it is the oldest political party active in Argentina...
(UCR) – the party in power in Argentina at the time. A staunch opponent of the 1930 coup d'état that unseated populist UCR President Hipólito Yrigoyen
Hipólito Yrigoyen
Juan Hipólito del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Irigoyen Alem was twice President of Argentina . His activism became the prime impetus behind the obtainment of universal suffrage in Argentina in 1912...
, Sabattini went underground and participated in numerous potests, some violent, before an agreement between Conservative President Agustín Justo and the leader of the UCR, former President Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear
Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear
Máximo Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear Pacheco , better known as Marcelo T. de Alvear was an Argentine politician and President of Argentina from October 12, 1922 to October 12, 1928.-Biography:...
, resulted in the lifting of a UCR electoral boycott in effect since the fraud-ridden 1931 elections
Argentine presidential election, 1931
The Argentine presidential election of 1931 was held on 8 November. With a turnout of 73.4%, it produced the following official results: aAbstentions.-Argentine Chamber of Deputies:-Argentine Senate:-Background:...
. In this framework, Sabattini was elected Governor of the important Province of Córdoba
Córdoba Province (Argentina)
Córdoba is a province of Argentina, located in the center of the country. Neighboring provinces are : Santiago del Estero, Santa Fe, Buenos Aires, La Pampa, San Luis, La Rioja and Catamarca...
in 1936.
A supporter of much of President Yrigoyen's 1916 platform
Argentine presidential election, 1916
The Argentine general election of 1916 was held on 2 April. Voters elected the President, legislators, and local officials. The first free presidential elections in the nation's history, they had a turnout of 62.7% and produced the following official results:...
, including liberalization of the universities and the establishment of State enterprises, Sabattini initiated several hydroelectric dams and supported the creation of numerous industrial zones in his then-agrarian province. He extended assistance to his province's needy and to small business, while prosecuting hitherto rampant graft and limiting the Catholic Church's input in school curricula, earning him the enmity of that influential institution.
The Governor retired to his modest home in Villa María and in 1940, though he was inelegible for reelection per the provincial constitution, his UCR was returned to power that year, electing Governor Santiago del Castillo. Sabattini's electoral and judicial reforms, as well as Córdoba Province conservatives' unwillingness to participate in the prevailing system of "patriotic fraud," prevented the nation's ruling party (the Concordance) from seizing the Governorship.
Sabattini became a supporter of many of the social reforms advanced by Labor Minister Juan Perón
Juan Perón
Juan Domingo Perón was an Argentine military officer, and politician. Perón was three times elected as President of Argentina though he only managed to serve one full term, after serving in several government positions, including the Secretary of Labor and the Vice Presidency...
, following a coup d'état against the conservatives in 1943. Perón offered Sabattini the Vice-Presidential slot on his Labor Party ticket, ahead of the February 1946 elections
Argentine general election, 1946
The Argentine general election of 1946, the last for which only men were enfranchised, was held on 24 February. Voters chose both the President and their legislators and with a turnout of 83.4%, it produced the following results:-President:aAbstentions....
. The popular Córdoba lawmaker declined, however, instead creating a "Intransigent and Renewal Movement", opossing to presdident Perón but also to the right wing of Radical Party. Around 1952 he begin a pragmatic alliance with other oppossing groups, after the increasingly autocratic Perón's seizure of a number of critical newspapers and his detention of prominent opponents. This will lead to a coup of 1955. Following this, Sabattini allied himself with the moderately conservative Ricardo Balbín
Ricardo Balbín
Ricardo Balbín was an Argentine lawyer and politician, and one of the most important figures of the centrist Radical Civic Union , for which he was the presidential nominee four times: in 1951, 1958, and twice in 1973....
, whose mainstream UCR (the UCR-P) was defeated by the splinter UCRI's Arturo Frondizi
Arturo Frondizi
Arturo Frondizi Ercoli was the President of Argentina between May 1, 1958, and March 29, 1962, for the Intransigent Radical Civic Union.-Early life:Frondizi was born in Paso de los Libres, Corrientes Province...
when the exiled Perón endorsed him ahead of the February 1958 elections
Argentine general election, 1958
The Argentine general election of 1958 was held on 23 February. Voters chose both the President and their legislators and with a turnout of 90.9% , it produced the following results:-President:aAbstentions....
.
Living in solitude and nearly penniless, Sabattini died in Villa María
Villa María
Villa María is a city in Córdoba Province, Argentina, and the head town of the General San Martín Department. It is located in the center of rich agricultural land. The area leads the country in production of milk...
in 1960, at age 67.