Carlos Menem, (born July 2, 1930, Anillaco, Arg.), President of Argentina (1989–99). The son of Syrian immigrants, he converted to Roman Catholicism and joined the Peronist movement in 1956. He held typical Peronist views, favouring nationalism, expansion of the government, large raises for wage earners, and tax breaks for businesses. By the time he took office, however, inflation had risen to 28,000% and Argentina was in crisis; he consequently abandoned his party orthodoxy in favour of a fiscally conservative policy and succeeded in stabilizing the economy. A flamboyant figure, he enjoyed great popularity despite his controversial pardoning of convicted human-rights violators connected with the period of military rule. He became a senator in 2005. In the early 21st century Menem faced criminal charges of illegal arms dealing and of obstructing the investigation of a 1994 bombing in Buenos Aires.
Carlos Menem summary
Below is the article summary. For the full article, see Carlos Menem.
Peronist Summary
Peronist, in Argentine politics, a supporter of Juan Perón, a member of the Justicialist Party (Partido Justicialista; PJ), or an adherent of the populist and nationalistic policies that Perón espoused. Peronism has played an important part in Argentina’s history since the mid-1940s. The Peronist
president Summary
President, in government, the officer in whom the chief executive power of a nation is vested. The president of a republic is the head of state, but the actual power of the president varies from country to country; in the United States, Africa, and Latin America the presidential office is charged
government Summary
Government, the political system by which a country or community is administered and regulated. Most of the key words commonly used to describe governments—words such as monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy—are of Greek or Roman origin. They have been current for more than 2,000 years and have not
Argentina Summary
Argentina, country of South America, covering most of the southern portion of the continent. The world’s eighth largest country, Argentina occupies an area more extensive than Mexico and the U.S. state of Texas combined. It encompasses immense plains, deserts, tundra, and forests, as well as tall
Peronist summary
Below is the article summary. For the full article, see Peronist.
Peronist , Member of Argentina’s Justicialist Nationalist Movement, a supporter of Juan Perón, or an adherent of his populist and nationalist policies. Perón’s poorly defined political philosophy embraced elements of both left- and right-wing ideology, combining a commitment to the redistribution of wealth with authoritarian nationalism and disregard for civil rights. After his death in 1974, the Justicialist movement was weakened by factionalism, but it continued to play an important role in Argentine politics and had adherents elsewhere. See also Carlos Menem.
Carlos Menem Summary
Carlos Menem was a politician and lawyer who served as president of Argentina (1989–99)—the first Peronist to be elected president of Argentina since Juan Perón in 1973. Menem, the son of Syrian immigrants, was born into the Muslim faith but converted to Roman Catholicism, the official religion of
Argentina Summary
Argentina, country of South America, covering most of the southern portion of the continent. The world’s eighth largest country, Argentina occupies an area more extensive than Mexico and the U.S. state of Texas combined. It encompasses immense plains, deserts, tundra, and forests, as well as tall
Juan Perón Summary
Juan Perón was an army colonel who became president of Argentina (1946–52, 1952–55, 1973–74) and was the founder and leader of the Peronist movement. Perón in his career was in many ways typical of the upwardly mobile, lower-middle-class youth of Argentina. He entered military school at 16 and made
