Vicente Solano Lima
Encyclopedia
Vicente Solano Lima was a moderately conservative newspaper publisher and politician who served as Vice President
of Argentina
from May 25, 1973 to July 13, 1973.
, Solano Lima joined the Popular Conservative Party while enrolled in the University of La Plata. He earned a law degree in 1921 and became a provincial legislator in 1925, serving in the Lower House of the Argentine Congress
on two occasions as a center-right National Democratic Party member. Solano Lima purchased an ailing San Nicolás de los Arroyos
newspaper, El Norte, in 1928. Becoming a market leader in northeastern Buenos Aires Province (an area which also includes Ramallo), El Norte became a forum for the National Democrats, who enjoyed majorities in Congress during most of the 1930s.
The election of laborioust leader Juan Perón
to the Presidency in 1946 resulted in the daily's closure in 1948. Following Perón's 1955 overthrow, however, the National Democrats' stauchly anti-Peronist stance led Solano Lima to join Senator Alberto Fonrouge in his break from the party, co-founding the Popular Conservative Party in 1958. Supporting a policy of rapproachment with the exiled Perón, the Popular Conservatives joined the banned Peronists in a joint Popular Front for the 1963 elections
, for which he accepted the nomination for the Presidency; the military's insistence on their ban thwarted the move, however, and helped lead to record blank votes.
The ban on Peronism was rescinded ahead by President Alejandro Lanusse ahead of his call for new elections in 1973
, and the Popular Conservatives endorsed Perón's stand-in, Héctor Cámpora. Despite his conservative
affiliation, Solano Lima was nominated as the leftist Cámpora's running-mate, and the ticket sailed to victory on March 11. Taking office on May 25, Solano Lima focused his attention on helping increase university enrollment among the working and lower classes in Argentina. He joined President Cámpora in Juan Perón
's retinue on the leader's June 20 return from exile in Madrid
; facing sudden rioting near the international airport on their descent, further tragedy was averted by the Vice President's insistence that the flight be diverted to the Morón Airport and Air Base
. The confrontation and differences between Cámpora and Perón's leading right-wing advisor, José López Rega
, caused Solano Lima to resign as Vice-President on July 13, leading Cámpora to do likewise.
Suffering from worsening asthma
, Solano Lima considered retirement in Spain
, but was persuaded by Perón to stay on as Chief of Staff when the latter was elected President on snap elections
in September. Perón appointed him Rector of the University of Buenos Aires
in March 1974, though the president's death that July led to Solano Lima's retirement from public life, days later. Returning to San Nicolás, he joined a number of friends in a law practice, and granted numerous interviews in subsequent years; he died in Buenos Aires in 1984, at age 82.
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of Argentina
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...
from May 25, 1973 to July 13, 1973.
Life and times
Born in Ramallo, Buenos AiresRamallo, Buenos Aires
Ramallo is a town in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. It is the head town of the Ramallo Partido. It is located on next to the Río Paraná.-Economy:...
, Solano Lima joined the Popular Conservative Party while enrolled in the University of La Plata. He earned a law degree in 1921 and became a provincial legislator in 1925, serving in the Lower House of the Argentine 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....
on two occasions as a center-right National Democratic Party member. Solano Lima purchased an ailing San Nicolás de los Arroyos
San Nicolás de los Arroyos
San Nicolás de los Arroyos is a city in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, on the western shore of the Paraná River, 61 km from Rosario. It has about 138,000 inhabitants . It is the head town of the partido of the same name...
newspaper, El Norte, in 1928. Becoming a market leader in northeastern Buenos Aires Province (an area which also includes Ramallo), El Norte became a forum for the National Democrats, who enjoyed majorities in Congress during most of the 1930s.
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...
to the Presidency in 1946 resulted in the daily's closure in 1948. Following Perón's 1955 overthrow, however, the National Democrats' stauchly anti-Peronist stance led Solano Lima to join Senator Alberto Fonrouge in his break from the party, co-founding the Popular Conservative Party in 1958. Supporting a policy of rapproachment with the exiled Perón, the Popular Conservatives joined the banned Peronists in a joint Popular Front for the 1963 elections
Argentine general election, 1963
The Argentine general election of 1963 was held on 7 July. Voters chose both the President and their legislators and with a turnout of 85.6%, it produced the following results:-President:aAbstentions.-Argentine Chamber of Deputies:...
, for which he accepted the nomination for the Presidency; the military's insistence on their ban thwarted the move, however, and helped lead to record blank votes.
The ban on Peronism was rescinded ahead by President Alejandro Lanusse ahead of his call for new elections in 1973
Argentine general election, March 1973
The first Argentine general election of 1973 was held on 11 March. Voters chose both the President and their legislators and with a turnout of 85.5%, it produced the following results:-President:...
, and the Popular Conservatives endorsed Perón's stand-in, Héctor Cámpora. Despite his conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
affiliation, Solano Lima was nominated as the leftist Cámpora's running-mate, and the ticket sailed to victory on March 11. Taking office on May 25, Solano Lima focused his attention on helping increase university enrollment among the working and lower classes in Argentina. He joined President Cámpora in 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...
's retinue on the leader's June 20 return from exile in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
; facing sudden rioting near the international airport on their descent, further tragedy was averted by the Vice President's insistence that the flight be diverted to the Morón Airport and Air Base
Moron Airport and Air Base
Morón Airport is located southwest of the center of Morón, a city in the Buenos Aires Province of Argentina. The airport covers an area of 439 hectares...
. The confrontation and differences between Cámpora and Perón's leading right-wing advisor, José López Rega
José López Rega
José López Rega was Argentina's Minister of Social Welfare during the Peronist government started in 1973 by Juan Perón and continued after Perón's death in 1974 by his third wife and vice-president, Isabel Martínez de Perón , until the coup d'etat of 1976 that initiated the so-called National...
, caused Solano Lima to resign as Vice-President on July 13, leading Cámpora to do likewise.
Suffering from worsening asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
, Solano Lima considered retirement in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, but was persuaded by Perón to stay on as Chief of Staff when the latter was elected President on snap elections
Argentine general election, September 1973
The second Argentine general election of 1973 was held on 23 September. Turnout was 85.5%, and it produced the following results:-Background:...
in September. Perón appointed him Rector of 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...
in March 1974, though the president's death that July led to Solano Lima's retirement from public life, days later. Returning to San Nicolás, he joined a number of friends in a law practice, and granted numerous interviews in subsequent years; he died in Buenos Aires in 1984, at age 82.