Guillermo Moreno (Argentine politician)
Encyclopedia
Guillermo Moreno is an Argentine
politician. He currently serves as Secretary of Domestic Trade in President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
's administration, and was appointed in that post by her husband and predecessor, Néstor Kirchner
.
in the 1970s, a left-wing branch of the Peronist
movement that favoured a social revolution on the lines of the Cuban revolution. After democracy was re-established in Argentina in 1983, he opened a hardware wholesale store in Buenos Aires
and graduated in Economics at the Argentine University of Business
(UADE).
His first Government position was Under-Secretary of Production in the Buenos Aires
City Government, under Mayor Carlos Grosso, in the early '90s. He later became an assistant to the Trade Secretary during the Presidency of Eduardo Duhalde
(2002–2003).
Moreno became close to Néstor Kirchner
before Kirchner reached the Presidency in 2003. He was one of the members of the Calafate Group, a think-tank created by, among others, Néstor Kirchner
himself as a forum to foster heterodox ideas that would revert the neoliberal policies of the 1990s.
During Kirchner's Government, Moreno served as Secretary of Communications for a couple of years, before taking over as Secretary of Domestic Trade, a post he held after Néstor Kirchner was succeeded by his wife, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
on December 10, 2007.
Moreno is often referred to as "the cowboy" due to his harsh methods in dealing with corporations and politicians. He became notorious, among Argentine CEOs, by openly threatening to resort to violence and for brandishing a pistol during meetings in his office.
He became the target of nationwide criticism following his removal of Graciela Bevacqua, the chief statistician overseeing the formulation of consumer price data at INDEC, the nation's statistical office, and other officials who would not agree to understating the inflation rate. He allegedly followed these moves by having phones tapped and using other surveillance methods to control internal disagreements at the bureau.
Moreno has been described as a highly authoritarian, extremely inefficient and incompetent official, and it has often been argued that he exerts far more influence in national politics than it would be reasonably expected, considering his office as a Secretary, formally subordinated to the Minister of Economics. It is believed his power struggle against former Minister Martín Lousteau
was the main reason behind the latter's resignation in April 2008, after a mere four months in office.
Moreno is separated from his wife, with whom he has a son and a daughter.
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 currently serves as Secretary of Domestic Trade in President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
Cristina Elisabet Fernández de Kirchner , commonly known as Cristina Fernández or Cristina Kirchner is the 55th and current President of Argentina and the widow of former President Néstor Kirchner. She is Argentina's first elected female president, and the second female president ever to serve...
's administration, and was appointed in that post by her husband and predecessor, Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Carlos Kirchner was an Argentine politician who served as the 54th President of Argentina from 25 May 2003 until 10 December 2007. Previously, he was Governor of Santa Cruz Province since 10 December 1991. He briefly served as Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations ...
.
Biography
Moreno was an active member of the Peronist YouthPeronism
Peronism , or Justicialism , is an Argentine political movement based on the programmes associated with former President Juan Perón and his second wife, Eva Perón...
in the 1970s, a left-wing branch of the Peronist
Peronism
Peronism , or Justicialism , is an Argentine political movement based on the programmes associated with former President Juan Perón and his second wife, Eva Perón...
movement that favoured a social revolution on the lines of the Cuban revolution. After democracy was re-established in Argentina in 1983, he opened a hardware wholesale store 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 graduated in Economics at the Argentine University of Business
Universidad Argentina de la Empresa
Universidad Argentina de la Empresa is a private university in Buenos Aires, Argentina with a satellite campus in Pinamar.-History:...
(UADE).
His first Government position was Under-Secretary of Production in the 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...
City Government, under Mayor Carlos Grosso, in the early '90s. He later became an assistant to the Trade Secretary during the Presidency of Eduardo Duhalde
Eduardo Duhalde
-External links:...
(2002–2003).
Moreno became close to Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Carlos Kirchner was an Argentine politician who served as the 54th President of Argentina from 25 May 2003 until 10 December 2007. Previously, he was Governor of Santa Cruz Province since 10 December 1991. He briefly served as Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations ...
before Kirchner reached the Presidency in 2003. He was one of the members of the Calafate Group, a think-tank created by, among others, Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Carlos Kirchner was an Argentine politician who served as the 54th President of Argentina from 25 May 2003 until 10 December 2007. Previously, he was Governor of Santa Cruz Province since 10 December 1991. He briefly served as Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations ...
himself as a forum to foster heterodox ideas that would revert the neoliberal policies of the 1990s.
During Kirchner's Government, Moreno served as Secretary of Communications for a couple of years, before taking over as Secretary of Domestic Trade, a post he held after Néstor Kirchner was succeeded by his wife, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
Cristina Elisabet Fernández de Kirchner , commonly known as Cristina Fernández or Cristina Kirchner is the 55th and current President of Argentina and the widow of former President Néstor Kirchner. She is Argentina's first elected female president, and the second female president ever to serve...
on December 10, 2007.
Moreno is often referred to as "the cowboy" due to his harsh methods in dealing with corporations and politicians. He became notorious, among Argentine CEOs, by openly threatening to resort to violence and for brandishing a pistol during meetings in his office.
He became the target of nationwide criticism following his removal of Graciela Bevacqua, the chief statistician overseeing the formulation of consumer price data at INDEC, the nation's statistical office, and other officials who would not agree to understating the inflation rate. He allegedly followed these moves by having phones tapped and using other surveillance methods to control internal disagreements at the bureau.
Moreno has been described as a highly authoritarian, extremely inefficient and incompetent official, and it has often been argued that he exerts far more influence in national politics than it would be reasonably expected, considering his office as a Secretary, formally subordinated to the Minister of Economics. It is believed his power struggle against former Minister Martín Lousteau
Martín Lousteau
Martín Lousteau was the Minister of Economy and Production of Argentina under the administration of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, from December 10, 2007, until April 24, 2008...
was the main reason behind the latter's resignation in April 2008, after a mere four months in office.
Moreno is separated from his wife, with whom he has a son and a daughter.