Lucía Corpacci
Encyclopedia
Lucía Benigna Corpacci is an Argentine Senator
for Catamarca Province
, elected Governor in 2011.
. She enrolled at the National University of Córdoba
and earned a medical degree
in 1982 with a specialization in epidemiology
. Corpacci was a surgeon
at the Rawson Hospital in Córdoba
, the Muñiz Hospital in Buenos Aires
, and from 1988 to 2000, the San Juan Bautista Hospital in Catamarca. Her family had become prominent in Catamarca politics: her father, Sebastián Corpacci, was a prominent local physician and served as Minister of Government for Governors Vicente Saadi
and Ramón Saadi
; she is also the latter's niece.
Corpacci became director of CUR, Catamarca's leading AIDS
-related health care provider, in 2002, and in 2003 was appointed to the post of Director of the provincial office of the National Health Service (PAMI). Her husband's uncle, Armando Mercado, was head of the Front for Victory
(FpV) Catamarca chapter, and recommended Corpacci to his ex-wife, Social Development Minister Alicia Kirchner
.
She ran unsuccessfully in the 2005 elections
as second in the FpV party list, and afterward headed a local bureau of the Social Development Ministry. An alliance secured by Armando Mercado between the FpV and the UCR
resulted in the nomination of Eduardo Brizuela del Moral
(a UCR ally of Kirchnerism
, or "K Radical") for Governor and of Corpacci for Vice-Governor, and their Civic and Social Front
won the 2007 election
handily.
Brizuela del Moral was elected with Kirchnerist (FpV) support; but political fallout from the 2008 Argentine government conflict with the agricultural sector
over a proposed export tariff hike led to his distancing himself from Kirchnerism, and he became an ally of his fellow disaffected K-Radical, Vice President Julio Cobos
. Corpacci, who remained loyal to President Cristina Kirchner, resigned her post as Vice-Governor, and was elected Senator during the 2009 elections
.
Corpacci ran against Governor Brizuela, who sought a third term, in 2011. Though she had inherited a measure of popularity from her late father, her being a member of the Saadi family presented risks: her uncle, Ramón Saadi
, had been removed as Governor following the 1990 murder María Soledad Morales by two sons of close Saadi allies. She was elected Governor of the Province on the March 13, 2011 elections, defeating the incumbent by 83,711 votes over 76,627.
Following her victory, she declared herself "proud to be a Saadi....they are a traditional family of immigrant roots who accomplished much for this province." Regarding controversies surrounding former Governors Vicente and Ramón Saadi, she stated that "Saadi is not a bad word. I never campaigned for Ramón...but he's not the demon the media portray him." The nation's Interior Minister, Florencio Randazzo
, said that Corpacci "doesn't represent Ramón Saadi politically" and blamed media disinformation
for drawing the connection. Ada Morales, mother of María Soledad, dismissed claims of media disinformation, saying that "It would seem as if nobody raped María Soledad, nobody killed her, nobody disfigured her."
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...
for Catamarca Province
Catamarca Province
Catamarca is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country. The province has a population of 334,568 as per the , and covers an area of 102,602 km². Its literacy rate is 95.5%. Neighbouring provinces are : Salta, Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, Córdoba, and La Rioja...
, elected Governor in 2011.
Biography
Lucía Corpacci was born in San Fernando del Valle de CatamarcaSan Fernando del Valle de Catamarca
San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca is a city in northwestern Argentina and capital of Catamarca Province, on the Río Valle River, at the feet of the Cerro Ambato....
. She 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 earned a medical degree
Medical degree
A medical degree is, broadly defined, any academic degree which places its holder in a position to engage in the practice of medicine. BBC has reported that Medicine related degree programs such as MBBS, BDS and PharmD are the most difficult degree programs of all the other Bachelor degree programs...
in 1982 with a specialization in epidemiology
Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study of health-event, health-characteristic, or health-determinant patterns in a population. It is the cornerstone method of public health research, and helps inform policy decisions and evidence-based medicine by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive...
. Corpacci was a surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
at the Rawson Hospital in Córdoba
Córdoba, Argentina
Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with...
, the Muñiz Hospital 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 from 1988 to 2000, the San Juan Bautista Hospital in Catamarca. Her family had become prominent in Catamarca politics: her father, Sebastián Corpacci, was a prominent local physician and served as Minister of Government for Governors Vicente Saadi
Vicente Saadi
Vicente Leonidas Saadi was an Argentine Justicialist Party politician. He was a senator and governor for Catamarca Province, and became the patriarch of a family that has dominated Catamarca politics since the 1940s....
and Ramón Saadi
Ramón Saadi
Ramón Eduardo Saadi is a former Argentine senator and former governor for Catamarca Province and a member of the Argentine Justicialist Party...
; she is also the latter's niece.
Corpacci became director of CUR, Catamarca's leading AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
-related health care provider, in 2002, and in 2003 was appointed to the post of Director of the provincial office of the National Health Service (PAMI). Her husband's uncle, Armando Mercado, was head of the Front for Victory
Front for Victory
The Front for Victory is a Peronist political party and electoral alliance in Argentina, although it is formally a faction of the Justicialist Party. Both the former President Néstor Kirchner and the current President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner belong to this party, located on the left-wing...
(FpV) Catamarca chapter, and recommended Corpacci to his ex-wife, Social Development Minister Alicia Kirchner
Alicia Kirchner
Alicia Margarita Kirchner de Mercado is an Argentine Justicialist Party politician. She is the sister of former President Néstor Kirchner and served in his government as Minister of Social Development, a role which she continues to hold under new President, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, her...
.
She ran unsuccessfully in the 2005 elections
Argentine legislative election, 2005
Argentina held national parliamentary elections on Sunday, 23 October 2005. For the purpose of these elections, each of the 23 provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires are considered electoral districts....
as second in the FpV party list, and afterward headed a local bureau of the Social Development Ministry. An alliance secured by Armando Mercado between the FpV and the UCR
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...
resulted in the nomination of Eduardo Brizuela del Moral
Eduardo Brizuela del Moral
Eduardo S. Brizuela del Moral is an Argentine Radical Civic Union politician. He has been governor of Catamarca Province since 2003, heading the Civic and Social Front of Catamarca....
(a UCR ally of Kirchnerism
Kirchnerism
Kirchnerism is a term used to refer to the political philosophy and supporters of Néstor Kirchner, president of Argentina from 2003 to 2007, and of his wife Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, President from 2007...
, or "K Radical") for Governor and of Corpacci for Vice-Governor, and their Civic and Social Front
Civic and Social Front of Catamarca
The Civic and Social Front of Catamarca is a provincial political party in Argentina.The front was formed in 1991 by the Catamarcan branch of the Radical Civic Union and minor local parties...
won the 2007 election
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...
handily.
Brizuela del Moral was elected with Kirchnerist (FpV) support; but political fallout from the 2008 Argentine government conflict with the agricultural sector
2008 Argentine government conflict with the agricultural sector
The 2008 Argentine government conflict with the agricultural sector started in March 2008, which then extended into a prolonged period of turbulent politics...
over a proposed export tariff hike led to his distancing himself from Kirchnerism, and he became an ally of his fellow disaffected K-Radical, Vice President Julio Cobos
Julio Cobos
Julio César Cleto Cobos is an Argentine politician, currently serving as the Vice President of Argentina alongside President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. He started his political career as member of the Radical Civic Union , becoming Governor of Mendoza in 2003...
. Corpacci, who remained loyal to President Cristina Kirchner, resigned her post as Vice-Governor, and was elected Senator during the 2009 elections
Argentine legislative election, 2009
Legislative elections were held in Argentina for half the seats in the Chamber of Deputies and a third of the seats in the Senate on 28 June 2009, as well as for the legislature of the City of Buenos Aires and other municipalities.-Background:...
.
Corpacci ran against Governor Brizuela, who sought a third term, in 2011. Though she had inherited a measure of popularity from her late father, her being a member of the Saadi family presented risks: her uncle, Ramón Saadi
Ramón Saadi
Ramón Eduardo Saadi is a former Argentine senator and former governor for Catamarca Province and a member of the Argentine Justicialist Party...
, had been removed as Governor following the 1990 murder María Soledad Morales by two sons of close Saadi allies. She was elected Governor of the Province on the March 13, 2011 elections, defeating the incumbent by 83,711 votes over 76,627.
Following her victory, she declared herself "proud to be a Saadi....they are a traditional family of immigrant roots who accomplished much for this province." Regarding controversies surrounding former Governors Vicente and Ramón Saadi, she stated that "Saadi is not a bad word. I never campaigned for Ramón...but he's not the demon the media portray him." The nation's Interior Minister, Florencio Randazzo
Florencio Randazzo
Florencio Randazzo in an Argentine Justicialist Party politician, currently the President's Interior Minister. The Interior Ministry in Argentina serves as the President's chief political office.-Life and times:...
, said that Corpacci "doesn't represent Ramón Saadi politically" and blamed media disinformation
Disinformation
Disinformation is intentionally false or inaccurate information that is spread deliberately. For this reason, it is synonymous with and sometimes called black propaganda. It is an act of deception and false statements to convince someone of untruth...
for drawing the connection. Ada Morales, mother of María Soledad, dismissed claims of media disinformation, saying that "It would seem as if nobody raped María Soledad, nobody killed her, nobody disfigured her."