biography
| name: |
Menem, Carlos (Saul)
|
pronunciation:
[menem]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1935– )
|
| biography:
| Argentinian statesman and prime minister (1989–99), born in Anillaco, Argentina. While studying for the legal profession he became politically active in the Peronist movement (the Justice Party), founding the Youth Group in 1955. He was elected president of the Party in La Rioja (1963), and in the same year unsuccessfully contested the governorship of the province, eventually being elected in 1983 and re-elected in 1987. In 1989 he defeated the Radical Union Party candidate for the presidency. Despite inflammatory speeches during the election campaign, he declared a wish to resume normal diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom regarding the future of the Falkland Is. In 1992, after the resignation of his senior officials because of corruption allegations, he claimed he was the target of a smear campaign by the Opposition. He was re-elected in 1995 by a large majority. In 1998 he reversed his intention to run a third time for the presidency (an act that would have contravened the constitution) after a dramatic decline in his popularity. |
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