Jorge Sobisch
Encyclopedia
Jorge Omar Sobisch is an Argentine
centre-right politician, formerly governor of Neuquén Province
. He leads the Neuquén People's Movement and was a candidate for President of Argentina
in 2007.
and moved to Neuquén
as a young boy with the military family of his father, Carlos Sobisch. He studied in Neuquén and Buenos Aires, then moved to Trelew
, Chubut
as a young man to work in a friend's design company. He became a graphics operator and typesetter, later establishing his own company. He completed his military service in Sarmiento, Chubut
.
Sobisch assisted his Peronist father in founding the Neuquén People's Movement in 1961, following him into politics. The party won the Neuquén city elections in 1983 after the return of democracy and Sobisch became mayor, taking took a leading role in renewing the party. He also led the Club Atlético Independiente
football club from 1971.
Sobisch was elected governor of the province in 1991, serving until 1995. He took over the leadership of the party in 1997. He won again as governor in 1999 and 2003, with 57% of the vote, his term expiring in 2007 when he stepped down.
Sobisch led the founding of the Movement of the United Provinces, a new, conservative party, and was the movement's candidate for the Presidency in 2007. He had previously formed a centre-right alliance with Mauricio Macri
, although it did not survive Macri's alliance with Ricardo López Murphy
(who is not on good terms with Sobisch); López Murphy was a conservative presidential candidate in both 2003 and 2007.
Sobisch is also seen as an ally of former Justicialist Party
President Carlos Menem
and had hoped to become the candidate of those Peronists opposed to President Néstor Kirchner
. Following a scandal in his home province, concerning the April 7 death of local teachers' union member Carlos Fuentealba (who was reportedly fired upon by provincial police during a protest despite being unarmed), Sobisch was largely shunned by disgruntled Peronists who mainly backed Alberto Rodríguez Saá
. Sobisch was, however, backed by crime victims' rights activist Juan Carlos Blumberg
.
In 2007, Sobisch and his running mate, Jorge Asís
, gained 284,161 votes in the presidential elections
, amounting to 1.56% of the national vote, in sixth place. His wife of 38 years, Liliana Planas, died on December 22, 2009, after falling from their ninth story Neuquén apartment building, in what local coroners determined to be a suicide.
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...
centre-right politician, formerly governor of Neuquén Province
Neuquén Province
Neuquén is a province of Argentina, located in the west of the country, at the northern end of Patagonia. It borders Mendoza Province to the north, Rio Negro Province to the southeast, and Chile to the west...
. He leads the Neuquén People's Movement and was a candidate for President of Argentina
President of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
in 2007.
Biography
Sobisch was born in Buenos AiresBuenos 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 moved to Neuquén
Neuquén, Argentina
-Sister cities:Neuquén is sister city, as designated by Sister Cities International with: Knoxville, Tennessee, United States Treviso, Veneto, Italy Valdivia, Chile-External links: - Official website....
as a young boy with the military family of his father, Carlos Sobisch. He studied in Neuquén and Buenos Aires, then moved to Trelew
Trelew
-References:La Pasión según Trelew, Espejo de la Argentina, 1997, Editorial Planeta Argentina S.A.I.C.; Third Edition: April 2000, Buenos Aires, ISBN 950-742-859-3-External links:* * * *...
, Chubut
Chubut Province
Chubut a province in the southern part of Argentina situated between the 42nd parallel south and the 46th parallel south , the Andes range separating Argentina from Chile, and the Atlantic ocean...
as a young man to work in a friend's design company. He became a graphics operator and typesetter, later establishing his own company. He completed his military service in Sarmiento, Chubut
Sarmiento, Chubut
Sarmiento is a town in the province of Chubut, Argentina. It has about 8,000 inhabitants as per the , and is the head town of the department of the same name. It is located on the so-called Central Corridor of Patagonia, in a fertile valley amidst an otherwise arid region, 140 km west from...
.
Sobisch assisted his Peronist father in founding the Neuquén People's Movement in 1961, following him into politics. The party won the Neuquén city elections in 1983 after the return of democracy and Sobisch became mayor, taking took a leading role in renewing the party. He also led the Club Atlético Independiente
Independiente de Neuquén
Club Atlético Independiente is an Argentine Football club, based on the city of Neuquén...
football club from 1971.
Sobisch was elected governor of the province in 1991, serving until 1995. He took over the leadership of the party in 1997. He won again as governor in 1999 and 2003, with 57% of the vote, his term expiring in 2007 when he stepped down.
Sobisch led the founding of the Movement of the United Provinces, a new, conservative party, and was the movement's candidate for the Presidency in 2007. He had previously formed a centre-right alliance with Mauricio Macri
Mauricio Macri
Mauricio Macri is an Argentine businessman turned politician, and Head of Government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Son of Francisco Macri, a businessman of Italian origin prominent in the industrial and construction sectors, he represented the City of Buenos Aires in the Lower House of...
, although it did not survive Macri's alliance with Ricardo López Murphy
Ricardo López Murphy
Ricardo Hipólito López Murphy is an Argentine economist and politician.-Career:López Murphy was born in Adrogué, Buenos Aires Province. He attended the National University of La Plata, where he was awarded the title of "Licenciado en Economía" in 1975...
(who is not on good terms with Sobisch); López Murphy was a conservative presidential candidate in both 2003 and 2007.
Sobisch is also seen as an ally of former Justicialist Party
Justicialist Party
The Justicialist Party , or PJ, is a Peronist political party in Argentina, and the largest component of the Peronist movement.The party was led by Néstor Kirchner, President of Argentina from 2003 to 2007, until his death on October 27, 2010. The current Argentine president, Cristina Fernández de...
President Carlos Menem
Carlos Menem
Carlos Saúl Menem is an Argentine politician who was President of Argentina from 1989 to 1999. He is currently an Argentine National Senator for La Rioja Province.-Early life:...
and had hoped to become the candidate of those Peronists opposed to President 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 ...
. Following a scandal in his home province, concerning the April 7 death of local teachers' union member Carlos Fuentealba (who was reportedly fired upon by provincial police during a protest despite being unarmed), Sobisch was largely shunned by disgruntled Peronists who mainly backed Alberto Rodríguez Saá
Alberto Rodríguez Saá
Alberto José Rodriguez Saá is an Argentine lawyer and politician. In 2007 he was reelected as governor of San Luis Province, Argentina to serve what will be his second term lasting until 2011...
. Sobisch was, however, backed by crime victims' rights activist Juan Carlos Blumberg
Juan Carlos Blumberg
Juan Carlos Blumberg is an Argentine textile entrepreneur and victims' rights advocate who rose to prominence following the 2004 murder of his son, Axel Blumberg.-Early life and tragedy:Blumberg was born in Avellaneda, Buenos Aires...
.
In 2007, Sobisch and his running mate, Jorge Asís
Jorge Asís
thumb|Jorge Asís in 1976, source:"Gente y la actualidad" magazine . October/Dicember 1983. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaJorge Asís is an Argentine writer and politician born 3 March 1946 in Avellaneda, Buenos Aires province....
, gained 284,161 votes in the presidential elections
Argentine general election, 2007
Argentina held national presidential and legislative elections on October 28, 2007, and elections for provincial governors took place on staggered dates throughout the year. For the national elections, each of the 23 provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires are considered electoral districts...
, amounting to 1.56% of the national vote, in sixth place. His wife of 38 years, Liliana Planas, died on December 22, 2009, after falling from their ninth story Neuquén apartment building, in what local coroners determined to be a suicide.
External links
- Sobisch 2007 official site (Spanish)
- Interview, ClarínClarín (newspaper)Clarín is the largest newspaper in Argentina, published by the Grupo Clarín media group. It was founded by Roberto Noble on 28 August 1945. It is politically centrist but popularly understood to oppose the Kirchner government...
, 2001-01-30 (Spanish) - Neuquen Province (Spanish)
- Neuquino People's Movement (Spanish)