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Néstor Carlos Kirchner
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The President represents the left-of-centre wing of
the Peronist Party. Formerly the governor of the southern
province of Santa Cruz
the Peronist Party (Peronistas), Kirchner was elected to the
Presidency in April 2003 with a weak mandate. However,
he has gradually consolidated his political authority within his
own party and has emphasized his social agenda as a key factor
of economic policy. |
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Domingo Cavallo
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The architect of
the current Convertibility
Plan made his reputation under Menem
but was sacked in 1996
amidst differences with the President. Cavallo then campaigned
against corruption in the Menem administration
and created a new party (Acción por la
República) under which he
won a congressional seat in 1997. At the
beginning of this year, Cavallo was brought back into government as
the Economy Minister to help lift the economy from a three year
recession. His free-market bent has
endeared him to Washington and financial
markets but domestically the persistence of recession has also
increasingly made him the scapegoat on the domestic front for the
shortcomings of the economic programme he introduced under the Menem
administration. |
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Carlos Saúl Menem
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President of Argentina for two terms from
1991-1999. Responsible for economic stabilization and
structural reforms of the 1990s. Currently head of Peronist
party and Senator for Rioja province. Strong advocate of
dollarization and aspiring to return to Presidency in 2003
elections. Despite recent indictments for corruption,
Menem remains a heavyweight within the opposition.
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Eduardo Duhalde
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Vice President under Menem administration and two time
governor of Buenos Aires. Represents more populist wing of the
Peronist party and has urged on the proposal to renegotiate external
debt. Failed to win the Presidency in last election but
remains important force within the Peronist party. |
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Carlos 'Chacho' Alvarez
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Former vice president of the ruling Alianza. Continues to be a
prominent figure in the left-wing Frente del
Pais Solidario (Frepaso).
Formerly a Peronist, Mr Alvarez continues to have a
leading role in the opposition
to the government's current economic agenda. |
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Raul Alfonsín
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Alfonsin was the president of Argentina (1983-1989) during the
transition to democracy and is currently a key leader of the Union
Civica Radical (UCR). He had a decisive role in the founding
of the Alianza por el Trabajo, la Justicia y la Educacion (Alianza
or Alliance) but since 1999 has gradually moved aside from the
national stage due to deteriorating
health. As a representative of the populist
wing of the UCR, the former president still remains a strong weight
within the party and is considered a key reference point in
important UCR internal decisions. |
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Elisa ‘Lilita’ Carrió
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In June a new political party was founded, the “Alternative for a
Republic of Equals” (ARI, Alternativa por una República de Iguales,
which is led by current Radical Party (UCR, Unión Cívica Radical)
deputy for the Chaco province in the Assembly, Elisa ‘Lilita’ Carrió.
The new political force is seen as filling the vacuum in the centre-left
of the political spectrum left by the departure of former vice
president and member of the left-wing Frepaso, Carlos “Chacho”
Alvarez, from the national political stage. As a member of the
Assembly committee investigating money laundering, Carrió has
quickly moved to the limelight of the national political stage as a
symbol of the fight against corruption. |
