Ricardo Alfonsín
Encyclopedia
Ricardo Alfonsín is an Argentine lawyer, academic and politician prominent in the Radical Civic Union
. His father, Raúl Alfonsín
, was the President of Argentina
from 1983 to 1989.
to María Lorenza Barreneche and Raúl Alfonsín; the latter was at the time a local lawyer and councilman active in the centrist Radical Civic Union
(UCR). Ricardo Alfonsín earned a degree in education at the Chascomús Teachers College, and taught civics
in local secondary schools, later earning a law degree at the University of Buenos Aires
.
He married Cecilia Plorutti, and the couple had four children during the 1980s; though his father had been elected president in 1983
, they avoided involvement in politics at the time. He first actively entered politics in 1993, and was elected delegate to the UCR leadership convention, during which his father was returned to the party's presidency after being turned out in 1991. He first rose to elected office in 1999, as a Buenos Aires Provincial Deputy, and remained in the post until 2003. The UCR in tatters following the 2001 resignation of President Fernando de la Rúa
, Alfonsín was named head of the party's foreign policy office following the end of his term in the legislature.
On September 7, 2004, his youngest daughter, Amparo, suffered a deep cut from broken glass at the parochial school she attended in Buenos Aires
, and lost her life at age 15. The tragedy led Alfonsín to retire from politics for a time, though in 2007, he made a surprise bid for the office of Governor of Buenos Aires Province
, naming veteran actor Luis Brandoni
as his running mate. The move was unconventional because the UCR, on which ticket he ran, had endorsed independent candidate Roberto Lavagna
in the 2007 presidential race
, and Lavagna, in turn, backed Congressman Jorge Sarghini for governor. Ultimately, none of the three won their respective races.
Alfonsín lost his father on March 31, 2009, when three days of national mourning were declared. A month earlier, he formed an alliance with former fellow UCR lawmaker Margarita Stolbizer
(who had established her own party, GEN) and accepted the second spot in the GEN/UCR party list ahead of the June 28, 2009 mid-term elections
. The list came in third in the Province of Buenos Aires, though it secured enough votes to elect both to the Lower House of Congress
, where they would be seated on December 10. As part of a compromise with the ruling Front for Victory
caucus (representing Kirchnerism
), the latter would retain the Presidency of the Lower House, and Alfonsín was elected 1st Vice President of the body on December 4.
Alfonsín clinched his party's nomination for the 2011 presidential elections
when Senator Ernesto Sanz
withdrew on April 28. The Civic and Social Agreement
alliance with GEN and the Socialist Party
was broken in June, so he endorsed the Federal Peronism
candidate Francisco de Narváez
for Governor of Buenos Aires and appointed former Central Bank President Javier González Fraga
as running mate.
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...
. His father, Raúl Alfonsín
Raúl Alfonsín
Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín was an Argentine lawyer, politician and statesman, who served as the President of Argentina from December 10, 1983, to July 8, 1989. Alfonsín was the first democratically-elected president of Argentina following the military government known as the National Reorganization...
, was the 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...
from 1983 to 1989.
Life and times
Ricardo Luis Alfonsín was born in the Pampas town of ChascomúsChascomús
Chascomús, is the principal city in Chascomús Partido in eastern Buenos Aires Province in eastern Argentina, located south of the capital Buenos Aires. As of 2001, the city had a population of 30,670 people.-History:...
to María Lorenza Barreneche and Raúl Alfonsín; the latter was at the time a local lawyer and councilman active in 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). Ricardo Alfonsín earned a degree in education at the Chascomús Teachers College, and taught civics
Civics
Civics is the study of rights and duties of citizenship. In other words, it is the study of government with attention to the role of citizens ― as opposed to external factors ― in the operation and oversight of government....
in local secondary schools, later earning a law degree at the University of Buenos Aires
University of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires is the largest university in Argentina and the largest university by enrollment in Latin America. Founded on August 12, 1821 in the city of Buenos Aires, it consists of 13 faculties, 6 hospitals, 10 museums and is linked to 4 high schools: Colegio Nacional de Buenos...
.
He married Cecilia Plorutti, and the couple had four children during the 1980s; though his father had been elected president in 1983
Argentine general election, 1983
The Argentine general election of 1983 was held on 30 October and marked the return of Democracy after the 1976's dictatorship self-known as National Reorganization Process...
, they avoided involvement in politics at the time. He first actively entered politics in 1993, and was elected delegate to the UCR leadership convention, during which his father was returned to the party's presidency after being turned out in 1991. He first rose to elected office in 1999, as a Buenos Aires Provincial Deputy, and remained in the post until 2003. The UCR in tatters following the 2001 resignation of President Fernando de la Rúa
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 ....
, Alfonsín was named head of the party's foreign policy office following the end of his term in the legislature.
On September 7, 2004, his youngest daughter, Amparo, suffered a deep cut from broken glass at the parochial school she attended 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 lost her life at age 15. The tragedy led Alfonsín to retire from politics for a time, though in 2007, he made a surprise bid for the office of Governor of Buenos Aires Province
Governor of Buenos Aires Province
The governor of the Buenos Aires province is a citizen of the Buenos Aires Province of Argentina, holding the office of governor for the corresponding period. The governor is elected alongside a vice-governor. It must not be confused with the Mayor of Buenos Aires, as the city of Buenos Aires is a...
, naming veteran actor Luis Brandoni
Luis Brandoni
Luis Brandoni is an Argentine film and television actor. Politically active in the centrist Radical Civic Union , he was elected to the Argentine Chamber of Deputies in 1993, where he served until, 2001...
as his running mate. The move was unconventional because the UCR, on which ticket he ran, had endorsed independent candidate Roberto Lavagna
Roberto Lavagna
Roberto Lavagna is an Argentine economist and politician, and was the former Minister of Economy and Production of Argentina from April 27, 2002, to November 28, 2005.-Career:...
in the 2007 presidential race
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...
, and Lavagna, in turn, backed Congressman Jorge Sarghini for governor. Ultimately, none of the three won their respective races.
Alfonsín lost his father on March 31, 2009, when three days of national mourning were declared. A month earlier, he formed an alliance with former fellow UCR lawmaker Margarita Stolbizer
Margarita Stolbizer
-Life and times:Margarita Stolbizer was born in the western Buenos Aires suburb of Morón, in 1955. She enrolled at the Universidad de Morón and graduated in 1978, after which she taught at her alma mater's law school for four years. An avid volleyball player, she created her city's first women's...
(who had established her own party, GEN) and accepted the second spot in the GEN/UCR party list ahead of the June 28, 2009 mid-term 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:...
. The list came in third in the Province of Buenos Aires, though it secured enough votes to elect both to the Lower House of Congress
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....
, where they would be seated on December 10. As part of a compromise with the ruling 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...
caucus (representing 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...
), the latter would retain the Presidency of the Lower House, and Alfonsín was elected 1st Vice President of the body on December 4.
Alfonsín clinched his party's nomination for the 2011 presidential elections
Argentine general election, 2011
Argentina held national presidential and legislative elections on 23 October 2011. Incumbent president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner secured a second term in office after the Front for Victory won just over half of the seats in the National Congress....
when Senator Ernesto Sanz
Ernesto Sanz
Ernesto Sanz , is an Argentine Radical Civic Union politician. He serves in the Argentine Senate representing Mendoza Province....
withdrew on April 28. The Civic and Social Agreement
Civic and Social Agreement
The Social and Civic Agreement is an active congressional alliance in Argentina, integrated by the Radical Civic Union and the Socialist Party , which acted as an umbrella national electoral alliance at the last 2009 Argentine legislative elections...
alliance with GEN and the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Argentina)
The Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in Argentina. The history of socialism in Argentina began in the 1890s, when a group of people, notably Juan B. Justo, expressed the need for a greater social focus....
was broken in June, so he endorsed the Federal Peronism
Federal Peronism
Federal Peronism , or Dissident Peronism , are the informal names given to a changing alliance of Justicialist Party figures, currently identified mostly by its opposition to ruling Kirchnerism, the center-left faction that heads the national Government of Argentina and leads the Peronist...
candidate Francisco de Narváez
Francisco de Narváez
Francisco de Narváez , known as El Colorado or Pancho, is a Colombian-born naturalized Argentine businessman, politician who ran for governor of Buenos Aires Province on the PRO ballot in the 2007 elections in Argentina...
for Governor of Buenos Aires and appointed former Central Bank President Javier González Fraga
Javier González Fraga
Javier González Fraga is an Argentine economist and businessman. He served as President of the Central Bank of Argentina from 1989 to 1991, and was nominated as running-mate by Ricardo Alfonsín for his 2011 campaign for the Presidency....
as running mate.