Raúl Alfonsín
| Raúl Alfonsín | |
|---|---|
Alfonsin Official Presidential Portrait (1984)
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| President of Argentina | |
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In office 10 December 1983 – 8 July 1989 |
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| Vice President | Víctor Hipólito Martínez |
| Preceded by | Reynaldo Bignone (de facto) |
| Succeeded by | Carlos Saúl Menem |
| National Senator of Argentina | |
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In office 10 December 2001 – 3 July 2002 |
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| Constituency | Buenos Aires |
| President of the Radical Civic Union Party | |
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In office 10 December 1999 – 10 December 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Fernando de la Rúa |
| Succeeded by | Ángel Rozas |
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In office 10 December 1993 – 10 December 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Mario Losada |
| Succeeded by | Rodolfo Terragno |
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In office 10 December 1983 – 10 December 1991 |
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| Preceded by | Carlos Raúl Contín |
| Succeeded by | Mario Losada |
| National Deputy of Argentina | |
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In office 25 May 1973 – 24 March 1976 |
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| Constituency | Buenos Aires |
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In office 12 October 1963 – 28 June 1966 |
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| Constituency | Buenos Aires |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín 12 March 1927 Chascomús, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Died | 31 March 2009 (aged 82) Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Resting place |
La Recoleta Cemetery Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Nationality | Argentine |
| Political party | Radical Civic Union |
| Spouse(s) | María Lorenza Barreneche (1949–2009; his death) |
| Children | Ricardo Alfonsín |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Awards |
Princess of Asturias Awards Illustrious Citizen of Buenos Aires |
| Signature |  |
Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín (12 March 1927 – 31 March 2009) was an Argentine lawyer, politician and statesman who served as the President of Argentina from 10 December 1983 to 8 July 1989. Born in Chascomús, Buenos Aires Province, he began his studies of law at the National University of La Plata and was a graduate of the University of Buenos Aires. He was affiliated with the Radical Civic Union (UCR), joining the faction of Ricardo Balbín after the party split.
He was elected a deputy in the legislature of the Buenos Aires province in 1958, during the presidency of Arturo Frondizi, and a national deputy during the presidency of Arturo Umberto Illia. He opposed both sides of the Dirty War, and several times filed a writ of Habeas corpus, requesting the freedom of victims of forced disappearances, during the National Reorganization Process. He denounced the crimes of the military dictatorship of other countries, and opposed the actions of both sides in the Falklands War as well. He became the leader of the UCR after Balbín's death, and was the Radical candidate for the presidency in the 1983 elections, which he won.
When he became president, he sent a bill to the Congress to revoke the self-amnesty law established by the military. He established the National Commission on the Disappearance of Persons to investigate the crimes committed by the military, which led to the Trial of the Juntas and resulted in the sentencing of the heads of the former regime. Discontent within the military led to the mutinies of the Carapintadas, leading Alfonsín to appease them with the full stop law and the law of Due Obedience. He also had conflicts with the unions, which were controlled by the opposing Justicialist Party. He resolved the Beagle conflict, increased trade with Brazil, and proposed the creation of the Contadora support group to mediate between the United States and the Nicaraguan Contras. He passed the first divorce law of Argentina. He initiated the Austral plan to improve the national economy, but that plan, as well as the Spring plan, failed. The resulting hyperinflation and riots led to his party's defeat in the 1989 presidential elections, which was won by Peronist Carlos Menem.
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