TIME: Almanac 1995

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<text id=93CT1592> <link 91TT0050> <link 90TT0108> <link 89TT1518> <link 89TT1278> <link 89TT0367> <title> Argentina--History </title> <history> Compact ALMANAC--CIA Factbook South America Argentina </history> <article> <source>CIA World Factbook</source> <hdr> History </hdr> <body> What is now Argentina was discovered in 1516 by the Spanish navigator Juan de Solis. A permanent Spanish colony was established on the site of Buenos Aires in 1580. Argentina was further integrated into the Spanish empire following the establishment of the Vice-Royalty of Rio de la Plata in 1776, and Buenos Aires became a flourishing port. The formal declaration of independence from Spain was made on July 9, 1816. Gen. Jose de San Martin-who campaigned in Argentina, Chile, and Peru-is the hero of national independence. Following the defeat of the Spaniards, a lengthy conflict was waged between centralist and federalist groups to determine the future structure of the nation. National unity was established and the constitution promulgated in 1853. In the last 19th century, two forces created the modern Argentine nation: the introduction of modern agricultural techniques and the integration of Argentina into the world economy. This economic revolution was aided by foreign investment-primarily British-in such fields as railroads and ports and by the influx of European manpower necessary to develop Argentina's resources. Conservative forces dominated Argentine politics until 1916, when their traditional rivals, the Radicals, won control of the government through a democratic election. In the mid-1930s, new social and political forces emerged in the competition for political power. These included the modern, professional military and the labor movement that emerged from the growing urban working class. In 1943, a military coup-led by, among others, Col. Juan Domingo Peron (1897-1974)-ousted the constitutional government. In 1946, Peron was elected the president. He pursued a dynamic policy aimed at giving an economic and political voice to the working class. The number of unionized workers increased significantly, which helped consolidate the powerful General Confederation of Labor (CGT). In 1947, Peron announced the first 5-year plan based on nationalization and industrialization. He was aided by his energetic wife, Eva Duarte Peron (1919-52). She enhanced his appeal to labor and women's groups and helped women obtain the right to vote in 1947. Peron was reelected in 1952, ousted by the military in 1955, and went into exile, eventually settling in Spain. In the 1950s and 1960s, the government alternated between military and civilian administrations as each sought to deal with declining economic growth and continued social and labor demands. On March 11, 1973, general elections were held for the first time in 10 years. Peron was prevented from running, and his stand-in Dr. Hector J. Campora, was elected president. Campora resigned in July 1973, paving the way for Raul Lastiri, a Peronist Party loyalist, to assume the presidency and call for new elections. Peron won a decisive victory and returned as president in October 1973 with his third wife, Isabel de Peron, as vice president. During this period, extremists on the left and right indulged in terrorism with a frequency that threatened public order. The government resorted to a number of emergency decrees, including special executive authority to deal with violence. This allowed the state to imprison persons indefinitely without charge. On July 1, 1974, Peron died and was succeeded by his wife, the first woman president in the Western Hemisphere. Mrs. Peron's administration was undermined by economic deterioration; Peronist intraparty struggles and growing terrorism from both left and right threatened a breakdown of law and order. As a result, she was removed from office by a military coup on March 24, 1976. Until December 10, 1983, the armed forces governed through a three-man junta composed of the three service commanders. The military, through the application of strong measures against terrorists and their sympathizers, silenced armed opposition and restored basic order. The costs were high in terms of lives lost and basic human rights violated. Accounting for those who "disappeared" during the late 1970s and punishing those responsible for such acts remain among Argentina's most controversial and divisive internal political issues. Serious economic problems, defeat by the British in June 1982 after an unsuccessful Argentine attempt to establish sovereignty over the Falkland/Malvinas Islands, human rights abuses, and charges of growing corruption discredited and discouraged the military. This resulted in a period of gradual transition, leading the country toward democratic rule. Previous bans on political parties and other basic political liberties were lifted, and a successful and generally peaceful process for the return to elected government was implemented. On October 20, 1983, Argentines went to the polls to choose as president, vice president, and 14,000 other national, provincial, and local officials in elections that were acclaimed as fair, open, and honest. Raul Alfonsin, candidate of the Radical Civic Union (UCR), was elected president, winning 52% of the popular vote. He began a 6-year term of office on December 10, 1983. In November 1985 and September 1987, a large turnout at the peaceful and honest midterm elections evidenced continued public support for a strong democratic system. With the September 1987 results, Peronists have broken the Radicals' majority in the Chamber of Deputies, although the UCR maintains a plurality of 114 seats out of 254, Peronists have 96, and the remaining 44 belong to small, often provincial-based parties. In the 46-seat Senate, the Peronists have slightly more seats than the Radicals-21 to 18-but not a majority. Provincial political parties have the remainder. The next presidential election will take place in 1989. The UCR-led government has moved to resolve some of the nation's most pressing problems, including accounting for the "disappeared," establishing civilian control of the armed forces, and consolidating democratic institutions. Seeking to reverse several years of mounting inflation and economic stagnation, a new economic program--the Austral Plan (named after the monetary unit chosen to replace the old peso)--was adopted. In foreign policy, Argentina's civilian government settled a longstanding territorial dispute with Chile over the Beagle Channel and is committed to seeking a diplomatic resolution of the Falklands/Malvinas dispute with Great Britain. Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Public Affairs, August 1990. </body> </article> </text>