Eduardo Duhalde
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| Eduardo Duhalde | |
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| In office January 2, 2002 – May 25, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Eduardo Camaño |
| Succeeded by | Néstor Kirchner |
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| Born | October 5, 1941 Lomas de Zamora, Greater Buenos Aires |
| Nationality | Argentinean |
| Political party | Justicialist |
| Spouse | Hilda de Duhalde |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Eduardo Alberto Duhalde Maldonado (born October 5, 1941) is a former president of Argentina.
Duhalde was born in Lomas de Zamora, in the Greater Buenos Aires. He graduated as a lawyer in 1970. In 1987 he became a member of the Argentine National Congress and became vice-president under Carlos Menem from 1989 to his resignation in 1991. In 1991 he won the first of two terms as governor of Buenos Aires.
He ran for president in 1999, after a failed attempt by Carlos Menem to run for a third term, but he was defeated by Fernando de la Rúa. Duhalde came in second place with 37% of the vote. After de la Rúa's resignation, due to the economic crisis and the December 2001 riots, Duhalde was appointed President of Argentina by the Legislative Assembly on 2 January 2002 during an unclear series of events that some people deemed as a conspiracy .
Initially to serve for a few months, until the chaotic situation of the country could be controlled, Duhalde stayed in office during more than one year. During this time, he confirmed the default of most of the Argentine public debt, and ended peg of the Argentine peso to the U.S. dollar, which triggered inflation, massive discontent and left more than a half of the country in poverty. Furthemore he took notoriety because of his said that those people who deposited dollars would receive dollars, before the "forced pesification" of the dollar deposits at an exchange rate of 1,40 pesos. Duhalde managed to stabilize the turmoil and, under some political pressure, called for elections.
Duhalde was succeeded by Néstor Kirchner on May 25, 2003. Duhalde's political and logistical support for Kirchner and against Carlos Menem was seen by many as an attempt of Duhalde to continue ruling as "the power behind the throne". After a while, however, Kirchner became increasingly distanced from Duhalde. Duhalde's wife, Chiche González, ran a heated campaign for the National Senate representing Buenos Aires, against Kirchner's wife, Cristina Fernández, for the October 23, 2005 legislative elections. González was severely beaten, which according to many political analysts marks the end of the Duhaldes' dominance over the province.
| Preceded by Víctor Martínez |
Vice-President of Argentina 1989–1991 |
Succeeded by Carlos Ruckauf |
| Preceded by Antonio Cafiero |
Governor of Buenos Aires 1991 – 1999 |
Succeeded by Carlos Ruckauf |
| Preceded by Eduardo Camaño |
President of Argentina 2002–2003 |
Succeeded by Néstor Kirchner |
[edit] External links
- (Spanish) Extended bio by CIDOB Foundation
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