Vicente Saadi
Encyclopedia
Vicente Leonidas Saadi (1913 – 10 July 1988) 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.
Born in Belén
, his family were prosperous Syria
n immigrants who became prominent in local commerce
. He allied himself with the centrist Radical Civic Union
(UCR) early on, though after the rise of populist leader Juan Perón
in 1945, he switched allegiances for the latter.
Saadi was elected Senator in 1946, serving until 1949 when he was elected on the Peronist ticket as Governor of Catamarca. The party's leader, President Perón, ordered Saadi removed from his post after four months, however, amid allegations of "nepotism
and despotism" in his administration of the remote province. Saadi was subsequently expelled from the party, and served time in prison.
He was married to Alicia Cubas de Saadi, and a number of their children went on to become leading Catamarca Province figures, as well. Ramón Saadi
was elected governor of Catamarca in 1987, Alicia Saadi was elected to the Senate in 1999, and Vicente Saadi (jr) and his daughter-in-law.
He was ultimately re-elected to the Senate in 1973 on behalf of the Peronist-led Frejuli
alliance, serving until the dissolution of the Argentine Senate
in the March 1976 coup. In the 1970s Saadi had been a leading supporter of the far-left Montoneros
, and set up the Intransigencia y Movilización faction; he was a patron of future Defense Minister Nilda Garré
.
Re-elected in 1983
at the return of democracy, Saadi led the Justicialists in the Senate, where the party obtained a majority of 21 seats to 18 for the UCR. Saadi abandoned his earlier support for left-wing Peronists, and endorsed Herminio Iglesias
as candidate in the race for Governor of Buenos Aires (the nation's largest province). Iglesias, a right-wing Peronist, lost the race, and despite the miscalculation, Saadi was elected Vice-President of the party. In that capacity, he worked closely with the leader of the UCR, President-elect Raul Alfonsín
, during the transition to democracy.
Saadi later took part in a famous television debate with Dante Caputo
on November 14, 1984, arguing against the Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1984 between Chile and Argentina
. In 1987 he swapped jobs with his son, Ramón, becoming governor once again whilst his son became a Senator. He remained powerful in the party, and that year, decided that the Justicialist Party would not pay the $8 million ransom demanded for the return of the hands of Juan Perón
, which had been stolen in June or July of that year. Vicente died in office.
Saadi was a leading figure in the politics of his province and the left-wing of his party, serving as vice-President of the Peronists and considered a caudillo
for his manner of control. He was one of the first prominent Syrian-Argentines and his name is recorded in streets, squares and other institutions around the country.
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...
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...
politician. He was a senator
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...
and governor 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...
, and became the patriarch of a family that has dominated Catamarca politics since the 1940s.
Born in Belén
Belén, Catamarca
Belén is a small town in the province of Catamarca, Argentina. It has about 12,000 inhabitants according to the , and it is the head town of the department of the same name. Belén is the birthplace of Luis Franco.-References:* — Official website....
, his family were prosperous Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
n immigrants who became prominent in local commerce
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
. He allied himself with 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) early on, though after the rise of populist leader 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...
in 1945, he switched allegiances for the latter.
Saadi was elected Senator in 1946, serving until 1949 when he was elected on the Peronist ticket as Governor of Catamarca. The party's leader, President Perón, ordered Saadi removed from his post after four months, however, amid allegations of "nepotism
Nepotism
Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos, nepotis , from which modern Romanian nepot and Italian nipote, "nephew" or "grandchild" are also descended....
and despotism" in his administration of the remote province. Saadi was subsequently expelled from the party, and served time in prison.
He was married to Alicia Cubas de Saadi, and a number of their children went on to become leading Catamarca Province figures, as well. 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...
was elected governor of Catamarca in 1987, Alicia Saadi was elected to the Senate in 1999, and Vicente Saadi (jr) and his daughter-in-law.
He was ultimately re-elected to the Senate in 1973 on behalf of the Peronist-led Frejuli
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...
alliance, serving until the dissolution of the Argentine Senate
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...
in the March 1976 coup. In the 1970s Saadi had been a leading supporter of the far-left Montoneros
Montoneros
Montoneros was an Argentine Peronist urban guerrilla group, active during the 1960s and 1970s. The name is an allusion to 19th century Argentinian history. After Juan Perón's return from 18 years of exile and the 1973 Ezeiza massacre, which marked the definitive split between left and right-wing...
, and set up the Intransigencia y Movilización faction; he was a patron of future Defense Minister Nilda Garré
Nilda Garré
Nilda Garré , a former leftist militant, is the current Minister of Security of Argentina, and the former Minister of Defense since 2005. She was the first woman to hold each office in the country.- Career :...
.
Re-elected 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...
at the return of democracy, Saadi led the Justicialists in the Senate, where the party obtained a majority of 21 seats to 18 for the UCR. Saadi abandoned his earlier support for left-wing Peronists, and endorsed Herminio Iglesias
Herminio Iglesias
Herminio Iglesias was an Argentine politician.The son of Galician immigrants, at the age of 13, Iglesias began to work in a factory, where, at age 21, he was appointed as a union shop steward....
as candidate in the race for Governor of Buenos Aires (the nation's largest province). Iglesias, a right-wing Peronist, lost the race, and despite the miscalculation, Saadi was elected Vice-President of the party. In that capacity, he worked closely with the leader of the UCR, President-elect Raul 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...
, during the transition to democracy.
Saadi later took part in a famous television debate with Dante Caputo
Dante Caputo
Dante Caputo is an Argentine academic, diplomat and politician, who served as the nation's foreign minister under President Raúl Alfonsín.-Academic activity:...
on November 14, 1984, arguing against the Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1984 between Chile and Argentina
Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1984 between Chile and Argentina
The Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1984 between Chile and Argentina was signed into agreement at the Vatican on 29 November 1984.It was ratified...
. In 1987 he swapped jobs with his son, Ramón, becoming governor once again whilst his son became a Senator. He remained powerful in the party, and that year, decided that the Justicialist Party would not pay the $8 million ransom demanded for the return of the hands of Juan Perón
Hands of Perón
The cutting of the Hands of Perón refers to a 1987 incident where the tomb of Juan Perón, former President of Argentina, was broken into and his hands dismembered and removed by persons unknown.-The incident:...
, which had been stolen in June or July of that year. Vicente died in office.
Saadi was a leading figure in the politics of his province and the left-wing of his party, serving as vice-President of the Peronists and considered a caudillo
Caudillo
Caudillo is a Spanish word for "leader" and usually describes a political-military leader at the head of an authoritarian power. The term translates into English as leader or chief, or more pejoratively as warlord, dictator or strongman. Caudillo was the term used to refer to the charismatic...
for his manner of control. He was one of the first prominent Syrian-Argentines and his name is recorded in streets, squares and other institutions around the country.