169-431: Carlos Saúl Menem ( Spanish pronunciation: [ˈkaɾlos ˈmenen] ; 2 July 1930 – 14 February 2021) was an Argentine lawyer and politician who served as the president of Argentina from 1989 to 1999. Ideologically, he identified as a Peronist and supported economically liberal policies. He led Argentina as president during the 1990s and implemented a free market liberalization . He served as President of
338-634: A 1993 agreement , the Argentine Constitution was amended to give Buenos Aires autonomy and rescinding, among other things, the president's right to appoint the city's mayor (as had been the case since 1880). On 30 June 1996, voters in Buenos Aires chose their first elected mayor, Jefe de Gobierno . In 1996, following the 1994 reform of the Argentine Constitution , the city held its first mayoral elections under
507-515: A Bell 206B-3 helicopter, along with Silvio Oltra who was riding as a passenger. The helicopter reportedly struck overhead power lines near Ramallo in the north of the province of Buenos Aires and crashed, killing both men. Later on, remains of Menem Jr. were exhumed amid murder claims by his mother Zulema Yoma. Menem had accused the Lebanese Shia Islamist group, Hezbollah , of killing his son. Menem ran in 2003 and won
676-664: A Chief of Government in 1996; previously, the Mayor was directly appointed by the President of Argentina . The Greater Buenos Aires conurbation, which also includes several Buenos Aires Province districts , constitutes the fifth-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas , with a population of around 13.8 million. It is also the second largest city south of the Tropic of Capricorn . The quality of life in Buenos Aires
845-683: A Peronist . He studied law at the National University of Córdoba , graduating in 1955. After President Juan Perón's overthrow in 1955, Menem was briefly incarcerated. He later joined the successor to the Peronist Party, the Justicialist Party (Partido Justicialista) (PJ). He was elected president of its La Rioja Province chapter in 1973. In that capacity, he was included in the flight to Spain that brought Perón back to Argentina after his long exile . According to
1014-637: A Swiss bank . He was declared innocent of those charges in 2013. In August 2008, the BBC reported that Menem was under investigation for his role in the 1995 Río Tercero explosion , which is alleged to have been part of the weapons scandal involving Croatia and Ecuador. Following an Appeals Court ruling that found Menem guilty of aggravated smuggling, he was sentenced to seven years in prison on 13 June 2013, for his role in illegally smuggling weapons to Ecuador and Croatia; his position as senator earned him immunity from incarceration, and his advanced age (82) afforded him
1183-498: A fiscally conservative , market-oriented economic policy. At the time, most economists thought that the ideal solution was the Washington Consensus ; i.e. reduce expenditures below the amount of money earned by the state, and open international commerce to free trade . Alfonsín had proposed similar reforms in the past, alongside some limited privatization of state-owned enterprises ; those projects were resisted by
1352-594: A terrorist attack with another car bomb on 18 July 1994, killing eighty-five people. It was the most destructive terrorist attack in the history of Latin America. The attack was universally condemned and 155,000 people demonstrated at the Congressional plaza, but Menem did not attend. The legal case stayed unresolved during the remainder of Menem's presidency. Menem had suggested, in the first press conference, that former Carapintada leaders may be responsible for
1521-679: A Deputy Chief of Government. In analogous fashion to the Vice President of Argentina, the Deputy Chief of Government presides over the city's legislative body, the City Legislature . The Chief of Government and the Legislature are both elected for four-year terms; half of the Legislature's members are renewed every two years. Elections use the D'Hondt method of proportional representation. The judicial branch comprises
1690-535: A businessman from Bunge and Born ; Miguel Roig, the company's then-vice president, became Menem's first appointed minister of economy on 30 May, although he would be replaced just five days after taking office due to his sudden death by myocardial infarction ; in his place was appointed Néstor Mario Rapanelli , who had succeeded Roig as vice president at Bunge and Born. Congress passed the economic emergency and state reform laws . The first allowed president Menem to reduce or remove subsidies at his discretion, and
1859-502: A cell with Pedro Eladio Vázquez, Juan Perón's personal physician. During this time he helped the chaplain Lorenzo Lavalle, despite still being a Muslim . In July he was sent to Magdalena , to a permanent prison. His wife Zulema visited him every week, but rejected his conversion to Roman Catholicism . His mother died during the time he was a prisoner, and dictator Jorge Rafael Videla denied his request to attend her funeral. He
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#17327729851382028-541: A child since their marriage in 2001, fled to Chile . Argentine judicial authorities repeatedly requested Menem's extradition to face embezzlement charges. This request was rejected by the Chilean Supreme Court as under Chilean law, people cannot be extradited for questioning. On 22 December 2004, after the arrest warrants were cancelled, Menem returned with his family to Argentina. He still faced charges of embezzlement and failing to declare illegal funds in
2197-466: A constitution. This established the Supreme Director as head of state and vested the position with presidential powers. This constitution gave the supreme director the power of appointing governors of the provinces. Owing to political circumstances, this constitution never came into force, and the central power was dissolved, leaving the country as a federation of provinces. A new constitution
2366-541: A firm pulse, the mistaken tendency to include among the functions of the State a number of business, industrial and commercial activities that had nothing to do with its essential mission. The results of its economic policy were reflected in an anticipated entry into the globalized world that was built after the fall of the Berlin Wall, in a rapid modernization of the country's productive infrastructure, and stability, which
2535-474: A likely defeat in a ballotage against Néstor Kirchner , he chose to pull out, effectively handing the presidency to Kirchner. He was elected senator for La Rioja in 2005. By the time he died in 2021 at age 90, he was the oldest living former Argentine president. He is regarded as a polarizing figure in Argentina, mostly due to corruption and economic mismanagement throughout his presidency. Carlos Saúl Menem
2704-430: A majority of the vote to win the presidency in a single round. To win the election in the first round, the winning candidate's party must receive either more than 45 percent of so-called "positive votes", or votos positivos (Section 97) or at least 40 percent of positive votes and be more than 10 percentage points ahead of the next most-voted candidate (Section 98). Positive votes are valid votes cast for any of
2873-568: A non-binding referendum on the proposal, to increase pressure on the Radical deputies. He also sent a bill to Congress to modify the majority requirements. Alfonsín met with Menem and agreed to support the proposal in exchange for amendments that would place limits on presidential power. This negotiation is known as the Pact of Olivos . The capital city of Buenos Aires would be allowed to elect its own chief of government . Presidential elections would use
3042-444: A private Bombardier Global 5000 . Following military coups that overthrew the constitutional government were de facto military presidents in 1930–1932, 1943–1946, 1955–1958, 1966–1973 and 1976–1983 that brought in addition to the powers of the president also corresponding to Congress. The subsequent analysis of the validity of their actions led to the subsequent formulation of the doctrine of de facto governments. That doctrine
3211-526: A prominent figure in Menem's cabinet. Cavallo brought a number of independent economists to the cabinet, and Menem supported him by replacing Peronist politicians. Both teams complemented each other. Both Menem and Cavallo tried to be recognized as the designer of the convertibility plan. Antonio Cafiero , a rival of Menem in the Partido Justicialistal, was unable to amend the constitution of
3380-649: A single proposal, not allowing the Constituent Assembly to discuss each one separately. The Broad Front , a new political party composed of former Peronists, led by Carlos Álvarez , grew in the elections for the Constituent Assembly. Both the Partido Justicialista and the UCR respected the pact, which was completely approved. Duhalde made a similar amendment to the constitution of Buenos Aires province, in order to be re-elected in 1995. Menem won
3549-532: A system of ballotage , and the president could only be re-elected once. The electoral college was abolished, replaced by direct elections . The provinces would be allowed to elect a third senator; two for the majority party and one for the first minority. The Council of Magistracy of the Nation would have the power to propose new judges, and the Necessity and Urgency Decrees would have a reduced scope. Despite
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#17327729851383718-555: A todos ). Aylwin's successor, Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle , had particularly warm relations with Menem. Former Chilean foreign minister José Miguel Insulza recalls of meetings with Menem and Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle in Anillaco in the 1990s where they enjoyed talking about politics and football. All of this made the critics of Menem label him "pro-Chilean". President of Chile Sebastián Piñera posthumously called him "a good friend of Chile". Similarly, José Miguel Insulza called Menem "one of
3887-541: A unipersonal office, the Supreme Director . Formal independence from Spain was declared in 1816, at the Congress of Tucumán . Buenos Aires managed to endure the whole Spanish American wars of independence without falling again under royalist rule. Historically, Buenos Aires has been Argentina's main venue of liberal , free-trading , and foreign ideas. In contrast, many of the provinces, especially those to
4056-410: A week at a local barracks, and then moved to a temporary prison on the ship 33 Orientales in Buenos Aires. He was detained alongside former ministers Antonio Cafiero , Jorge Taiana , Miguel Unamuno, José Deheza, and Pedro Arrighi, the unionists Jorge Triaca, Diego Ibáñez, and Lorenzo Miguel , the diplomat Jorge Vázquez, the journalist Osvaldo Papaleo, and the former president Raúl Lastiri . He shared
4225-486: A wide margin, and became the president-elect of Argentina. He was scheduled to take office on 10 December, but inflation levels took a turn for the worse, growing into hyperinflation , causing public riots . The outgoing president Alfonsín resigned and transferred power to Menem five months early, on 8 July. Menem's accession marked the first time since Hipólito Yrigoyen took office in 1916 that an incumbent president peacefully transferred power to an elected successor from
4394-485: Is an autonomous district. In 1880, after the Argentine Civil War , Buenos Aires was federalized and removed from Buenos Aires Province. The city limits were enlarged to include the towns of Belgrano and Flores ; both are now neighborhoods of the city . The 1994 constitutional amendment granted the city autonomy , hence its formal name of Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Its citizens first elected
4563-414: Is no limit on how many times a candidate may seek the presidency if they are unsuccessful. The same rules apply, mutatis mutandis , to the vice presidency of Argentina. Under the constitution of 1853, the president served for six years, with no possibility of consecutive reelection. In 1949, the constitution was amended to allow the president to run for an unlimited number of six-year terms. This provision
4732-449: Is that of the Cien barrios porteños ("One hundred porteño neighborhoods"), referring to a composition made popular in the 1940s by tango singer Alberto Castillo ; however, Buenos Aires only consists of 48 official barrios . There are several subdivisions of these districts, some with a long history and others that are the product of a real estate invention. A notable example is Palermo –
4901-531: Is the capital city of Argentina , on the western shore of the Río de la Plata on South America's southeastern coast. " Buenos aires " is Spanish for "fair winds" or "good airs". Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha global city , according to the Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) 2020 ranking. The city of Buenos Aires is neither part of Buenos Aires Province nor its capital; it
5070-446: Is the basis of long-term growth. Unfortunately, Menem's reformist drive collapsed when his second government began. His program of structural transformation of the country was interrupted and many strategic changes that were essential for the reforms of the previous period to produce the expected results were not executed." Editorial of the newspaper La Nación . Hyperinflation forced Menem to abandon party orthodoxy in favour of
5239-683: Is today the San Telmo district of Buenos Aires, south of the city center . More attacks by the indigenous people forced the settlers away, and in 1542, the site was thusly abandoned. A second (and permanent) settlement was established on 11 June 1580 by Juan de Garay , who arrived by sailing down the Paraná River from Asunción (now the capital of Paraguay). He dubbed the settlement "Santísima Trinidad" and its port became "Puerto de Santa María de los Buenos Aires." From its earliest days, Buenos Aires depended primarily on trade. During most of
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5408-514: The Junta Grande when representatives from the provinces joined. These early attempts at self-government were succeeded by two Triumvirates and, although the first juntas had presidents, the king of Spain was still regarded as head of state. Executive power was still not in the hands of a single person until the position of supreme director was created by the 1813 National Assembly . In 1817, Congress declared independence and composed
5577-400: The 1853 constitution for the purpose of providing a succession in case the president is unable to complete their term via death, resignation, or removal from office. The Argentine constitution (art. 88) entitles the vice president to exercise the duties of the president, both in the case of a temporary absence and in the case of a permanent absence for health reasons. In the absence of both
5746-693: The Alliance for Work, Justice and Education (Alianza). The Supreme Court confirmed that Menem was unable to run for a third re-election. Duhalde became the candidate for the presidential elections, and lost to the candidate for the Alianza ticket, Fernando de la Rúa. During Menem's presidency, Argentina aligned with the United States , and had special relations with the country. Menem had good relations with U.S. president George H. W. Bush , and his successor Bill Clinton from 1993 on. The country left
5915-522: The Argentine Chamber of Deputies . The Guardia Urbana de Buenos Aires (Buenos Aires Urban Guard) was a specialized civilian force of the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina , that used to deal with different urban conflicts with the objective of developing actions of prevention, dissuasion and mediation, promoting effective behaviors that guarantee the security and the integrity of public order and social coexistence. The unit continuously assisted
6084-733: The Argentine Civil Wars . Menem intended to use the reconciliation of these historical Argentine figures as a metaphor for the reconciliation of the Dirty War. However, although the repatriation and acceptance of Rosas was a success, the acceptance of the military regime was not. The military leaders of the National Reorganization Process , convicted in the 1985 Trial of the Juntas , received presidential pardons , despite popular opposition to them. This
6253-533: The Falklands War , after Margaret Thatcher left office in 1990. The discussions on the Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute were temporarily given a lower priority, and the focus shifted to discussions of fishing rights. In 1991, Menem became the first head of state of Argentina to make a diplomatic visit to Israel . He proposed mediating between Israel and Syria in their negotiations over
6422-823: The Golan Heights . The diplomatic relations between Argentina and Israel were later damaged by the lack of results in the investigations over the terrorist attacks against the Israeli embassy and the AMIA center in Buenos Aires. In 1998, Menem visited Russia, and met with Russian president Boris Yeltsin , where Menem expressed his anticommunist sentiments and congratulated Yeltsin for "defeating communism" in Russia. Menem also settled all remaining border issues with Chile . The Lago del Desierto dispute had an international arbitration, favourable to Argentina. The only exception
6591-407: The Justicialist Party for thirteen years (from 1990 to 2001 and again from 2001 to 2003), and his political approach became known as Menemism . Born in Anillaco to a Syrian family, Menem was raised as a Muslim , but later converted to Roman Catholicism to pursue a political career. Menem became a Peronist during a visit to Buenos Aires. He led the party in his home province of La Rioja and
6760-560: The Necessity and Urgency Decree as an alternative to sending bills to it. He even considered it feasible to dissolve Congress and rule by decree, but this step was never implemented. In addition, he developed a bon vivant lifestyle, taking advantage of his authority. For instance, he made a journey from Buenos Aires to Pinamar driving a Ferrari 348 TB (often misreported as a Ferrari Testarossa ) in less than two hours, violating speed limits. He divorced his wife Zulema Yoma and expanded
6929-835: The Non-Aligned Movement , and the Cóndor missile program was discontinued. Argentina supported all the international positions of the U.S., and sent forces to the Gulf War , and the peace keeping efforts during the War in Bosnia and after the Kosovo War . The country was accepted as a major non-NATO ally , but not as a full member . Menem's government re-established relations with the United Kingdom , suspended since
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7098-562: The Pampero and Sudestada winds pass by, the weather is variable due to these contrasting air masses. Summers are hot and humid. The warmest month is January, with a daily average of 24.9 °C (76.8 °F). Heat waves are common during summers. However, most heat waves are of short duration (less than a week) and are followed by the passage of the cold, dry Pampero wind which brings violent and intense thunderstorms followed by cooler temperatures. The highest temperature ever recorded
7267-618: The Presidential Air Group : The main aircraft was a Boeing 757 known as Tango 01 after its military registry: "T-01" (the "T" stands for "Transport", although it is fortuitously pronounced "Tango", as in the Argentine national dance , in the NATO alphabet ). The 757 entered the service in 1995 replacing the former T-01, a Boeing 707 . The aircraft was nicknamed Virgen de Luján after Argentina's patron saint . The Tango 01
7436-627: The Quinta de Olivos presidential residence with a golf course, a small zoo, servants, a barber, and even a buffoon. The swiftgate scandal broke out in December 1990, as American investors were damaged by a case of corruption, and asked for assistance from the United States' Ambassador Terence Todman . Most of the ministers resigned as a result of it. Cavallo was reassigned as minister of economy, and his successful economic plan turned him into
7605-541: The Washington Consensus and tackled inflation with the Convertibility plan in 1991. The plan was complemented by a series of privatizations and was initially a success. Argentina re-established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom , suspended since the 1982 Falklands War , and developed special relations with the United States. The country suffered two terrorist attacks. The Peronist victory in
7774-726: The pampa region , with the exception of some areas such as the Buenos Aires Ecological Reserve , the Boca Juniors (football club) 's "sports city", Jorge Newbery Airport , the Puerto Madero neighborhood and the main port itself; these were all built on reclaimed land along the coasts of the Rio de la Plata (the world's widest river). The region was formerly crossed by different streams and lagoons, some of which were refilled, and others tubed. Among
7943-562: The president of the Argentine Nation Spanish : Presidente de la Nación Argentina ) is both head of state and head of government of Argentina . Under the national constitution , the president is also the chief executive of the federal government and commander-in-chief of the armed forces . Throughout Argentine history, the office of head of state has undergone many changes , both in its title as in its features and powers. The current president Javier Milei
8112-506: The value-added tax to 21%. New labor law was met with resistance, both by Peronists, opposition parties, and unions, and could not be approved by Congress. The 1997 Asian financial crisis and the 1998 Russian financial crisis also affected the country with consequences that lasted longer than the Tequila Crisis and started a depression . Menem began his presidency assuming a non-confrontational approach, appointing people from
8281-566: The "Fair Winds" to aid them in their navigation and prevent shipwrecks . A sanctuary to the Virgin of Buen Ayre would later be erected in Seville . At the foundation of Buenos Aires, Spanish sailors arrived in the Río de la Plata giving thanks to the blessings of "Santa Maria de los Buenos Aires", "Holy Mary of the Good Winds", who they believed to have given them the good winds to reach
8450-455: The 17th century, Spanish ships were menaced by pirates, so they developed a complex system where ships with military protection were dispatched to Central America in a convoy from Seville (the only port allowed to trade with the American colonies) to Lima, Peru , and from there to the other cities of the viceroyalty. Because of this, products took a very long time to arrive in Buenos Aires, and
8619-695: The 17th century. The usual abbreviation for Buenos Aires in Spanish is Bs.As . It is also common to refer to it as " B.A. " or " BA ". When referring specifically to the autonomous city, it is very common to colloquially call it " Capital " in Spanish. Since the autonomy obtained in 1994, it has been called " CABA " (per Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires , Autonomous City of Buenos Aires). [REDACTED] Kingdom of Spain - Habsburg , 1536–1700 [REDACTED] Kingdom of Spain - Bourbon , 1700–1808 [REDACTED] Kingdom of Spain - Bonaparte , 1808–1810 [REDACTED] United Provinces of
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#17327729851388788-442: The 1970s the city suffered from the fighting between left-wing revolutionary movements ( Montoneros , ERP and F.A.R.) and the right-wing paramilitary group Triple A , supported by Isabel Perón , who became president of Argentina in 1974 after Juan Perón's death. The March 1976 coup , led by General Jorge Videla , only escalated this conflict; the " Dirty War " resulted in 30,000 desaparecidos (people kidnapped and killed by
8957-477: The 1990s saw an economic revival, particularly in the construction and financial sectors. On 17 March 1992, a bomb exploded in the Israeli Embassy , killing 29 and injuring 242. Another explosion, on 18 July 1994, destroyed a building housing several Jewish organizations, killing 85 and injuring many more, these incidents marked the beginning of Middle Eastern terrorism to South America. Following
9126-433: The 1993 midterm elections allowed him to persuade Alfonsín (by then leader of the opposition party UCR ) to sign the Pact of Olivos for the 1994 amendment of the Argentine Constitution . This amendment allowed Menem to run for re-election in 1995 , which he won. A new economic crisis began, and the opposing parties formed a political coalition winning the 1997 midterm elections and the 1999 presidential election . He
9295-536: The 2011 elections. but ran for a new term as a senator instead. In 2019, he eventually sat in the Frente de Todos' Senate bench until his death in 2021. On 7 June 2001, Menem was arrested over a weapons export scandal . The scheme was based on exports to Ecuador and Croatia in 1991 and 1996. He was held under house arrest until November. He appeared before a judge in late August 2002 and denied all charges. Menem and his Chilean second wife Cecilia Bolocco , who had had
9464-469: The Constitution detail the requirements: Article 89. To be elected president or vice president of the Nation, it is necessary to have born in Argentine territory, or be the son of a native citizen, having been born in a country foreign; and the other qualities required to be elected senator . Article 55. The requirements to be elected senator are: to be thirty years old, to have been a citizen of
9633-463: The Constitution of the states that " Suffrage is free, equal, secret, universal, compulsory and non-accumulative. Resident aliens enjoy this same right, with its corresponding obligations, on equal terms with Argentine citizens registered in the district, under the terms established by law ." The executive power is vested on the Chief of Government (Spanish: Jefe de Gobierno ), who is elected alongside
9802-695: The Crown of Aragon, after its capture from the Pisans in 1324, established their headquarters on top of a hill that overlooked the city. The hill was known to them as Bonaira (or Bonaria in Sardinian ), as it was free of the foul smell prevalent in the old city (the castle area), which is adjacent to swampland . During the siege of Cagliari, the Catalans built a sanctuary to the Virgin Mary on top of
9971-422: The Nation for six years, enjoy an annual income of two thousand pesos or an equivalent income, and be a native of the province that chooses it, or with two years of residence immediate in it. Sections 94 to 98 detail the electoral requirements. A modified two-round system , or ballotage , is used (Section 94). Unlike in most countries using a two-round system, presidential candidates in Argentina do not need to win
10140-564: The Partido Justicialistal opposition party, whose internal factions were actually benefiting from the prevailing protectionist policies . The magnitude of the crisis, however, convinced most politicians to change their minds. Menem, fearing that the crisis might force him to resign as well, embraced the Washington Consensus and rejected the traditional policies of Peronism . The president invited several conservative figures into his cabinet, such as Álvaro Alsogaray , as well as
10309-431: The Partido Justicialistal. After these elections, all of the Partido Justicialistal, was aligned with Menem's leadership, with the exception of a small number of legislators known as the "Group of Eight". The opposition from the UCR was minimal, as the party was still discredited by the 1989 crisis. With such political influence, Menem began his proposal to amend the constitution to allow a re-election. The party did not have
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#173277298513810478-524: The Peronist politician Juan Manuel Abal Medina , Menem played no special part in the event. Menem was elected governor of La Rioja in 1973 when the proscription of Peronism was lifted. He was deposed during the 1976 Argentine coup d'état that overthrew President Isabel Perón . He was accused of corruption and having links with the guerrillas of the Dirty War . He was detained on 25 March, kept for
10647-455: The Río de la Plata , 1810–1831 [REDACTED] Argentine Confederation , 1831–1852 [REDACTED] State of Buenos Aires , 1852–1861 [REDACTED] Argentina , 1861–present In 1516, navigator and explorer Juan Díaz de Solís , navigating in the name of Spain, was the first European to reach the Río de la Plata . His expedition was cut short when he was killed during an attack by
10816-576: The Supreme Court investigated several other hypotheses. The Court wrote a report in 1996 suggesting that it could have been the explosion of an arms cache stored in the basement. Another hypothesis was that the attack could have been performed by Jewish extremists, in order to cast blame on Muslims and thwart the peace negotiations. The Court finally held Hezbollah responsible for the attack in May 1999. The Argentine Israelite Mutual Association suffered
10985-425: The Supreme Court of Justice ( Tribunal Superior de Justicia ), the Council of Magistracy ( Consejo de la Magistratura ), the Public Ministry, and other city courts. Legally, the city has less autonomy than the Provinces . In June 1996, shortly before the city's first Executive elections were held, the Argentine National Congress issued the National Law 24.588 (known as Ley Cafiero , after the Senator who advanced
11154-402: The United States government, and approximately €700 million to the German government, to settle allegations of bribery. The settlement revealed that Menem had received about US$ 2 million in bribes from Siemens in exchange for awarding the national ID card and passport production contract to Siemens; Menem denied the charges but nonetheless agreed to pay a fine. On 1 December 2015, Menem
11323-446: The abolition of conscription in the country. The following year, Balza voiced the first institutional self-criticism of the armed forces during the Dirty War, saying that obedience did not justify the actions committed in those years. The Israeli embassy suffered a terrorist car bomb attack on 17 March 1992. It was perceived as a consequence of Argentina's involvement in the Gulf War . Although Hezbollah claimed responsibility for it,
11492-428: The acting mayor, was invested with the office. In the 2007 elections, Mauricio Macri of the Republican Proposal (PRO) party won the second-round of voting over Daniel Filmus of the Frente para la Victoria (FPV) party, taking office on 9 December 2007. In 2011, the elections went to a second round with 60.96 percent of the vote for PRO, compared to 39.04 percent for FPV, thus ensuring Macri's reelection as mayor of
11661-417: The attack, but this idea was rejected by the minister of defense several hours later. The CIA office in Buenos Aires initially considered it a joint Iranian-Syrian attack, but some days later considered it just an Iranian attack. Menem and Mossad also preferred this line of investigation. As a result of the attack, the Jewish community in Argentina had increased influence over Argentine politics. Years later,
11830-402: The balance of power favorably for the criollos (in contrast to peninsulars ), as well as the development of the Peninsular War in Spain. An attempt by the peninsular merchant Martín de Álzaga to remove Liniers and replace him with a Junta was defeated by the criollo armies. However, by 1810 it would be those same armies who would support a new revolutionary attempt, successfully removing
11999-449: The best friends of Chile". Argentina was still divided by the aftermath of the Dirty War (the dirty war ended in 1983, Menem's presidency began in 1989). Menem proposed an agenda of national reconciliation. First, he arranged the repatriation of the body of Juan Manuel de Rosas , a controversial 19th century governor, and proposed to reconcile his legacy with those of Bartolomé Mitre and Domingo Faustino Sarmiento , who also fought in
12168-466: The brief period of British rule, the viceroy Rafael Sobremonte managed to escape to Córdoba and designated this city as capital. Buenos Aires became the capital again after its recapture by Argentine forces, but Sobremonte could not resume his duties as viceroy. Santiago de Liniers, chosen as new viceroy, prepared the city against a possible new British attack and repelled a second invasion by Britain in 1807. The militarization generated in society changed
12337-561: The candidates, leaving out of the count blank and spoiled ballots. If no candidate obtains the necessary votes to win in the first round, then the two candidates with the most votes compete in the second round, held two weeks later, when the candidate with the most votes in that round is elected president. Under the 1994 constitutional amendment, the president serves for four years, with a possibility of immediate reelection for one more term. A president who has served two consecutive terms may be elected again after an interval of one term. There
12506-651: The capital. However, Charles's placating actions did not have the desired effect, and the porteños , some of them versed in the ideology of the French Revolution , instead became even more convinced of the need for independence from Spain. During the British invasions of the Río de la Plata , British forces attacked Buenos Aires twice. In 1806 the British successfully invaded Buenos Aires, but an army from Montevideo led by Santiago de Liniers defeated them. In
12675-508: The city became the regional capital of radio , television , cinema , and theater . The city's main avenues were built during those years, and the dawn of the 20th century saw the construction of South America's tallest buildings and its first underground system. A second construction boom, from 1945 to 1980, reshaped downtown and much of the city. Buenos Aires also attracted migrants from Argentina's provinces and neighboring countries. Shanty towns ( villas miseria ) started growing around
12844-411: The city was federalized and became the seat of government, with its mayor appointed by the president. The Casa Rosada became the seat of the president . Health conditions in poor areas were appalling, with high rates of tuberculosis. Contemporaneous public health physicians and politicians typically blamed both the poor themselves and their ramshackle tenement houses (conventillos) for the spread of
13013-498: The city with María Eugenia Vidal as deputy mayor. PRO is established in the most affluent area of the city and in those over fifty years of age. The 2015 elections were the first to use an electronic voting system in the city, similar to the one used in Salta Province . In these elections held on 5 July 2015, Macri stepped down as mayor and pursue his presidential bid and Horacio Rodríguez Larreta took his place as
13182-464: The city's eastern side in the neighborhoods of Puerto Madero, Recoleta, Palermo, and Belgrano. Some of the most important are: Under the Köppen climate classification , Buenos Aires has a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ). As a result of maritime influences from the adjoining Atlantic Ocean , the climate is temperate with extreme temperatures being rare. Because the city is located in an area where
13351-589: The city's industrial areas during the 1930s, leading to pervasive social problems and social contrasts with the largely upwardly mobile Buenos Aires population. These laborers became the political base of Peronism , which emerged in Buenos Aires during the pivotal demonstration of 17 October 1945, at the Plaza de Mayo . Industrial workers of the Greater Buenos Aires industrial belt have been Peronism's main support base ever since, and Plaza de Mayo became
13520-417: The city's northwest, advocated a more nationalistic and Catholic approach to political and social issues. In fact, much of the internal tension in Argentina's history, starting with the centralist-federalist conflicts of the 19th century, can be traced back to these contrasting views. In the months immediately following said "May Revolution", Buenos Aires sent a number of military envoys to the provinces with
13689-411: The city's residents live in apartment buildings and 30% in single-family homes; 4% live in sub-standard housing. Measured in terms of income, the city's poverty rate was 8.4% in 2007 and, including the metro area, 20.6%. Other studies estimate that 4 million people in the metropolitan Buenos Aires area live in poverty. The city's resident labor force of 1.2 million in 2001 was mostly employed in
13858-468: The city, and the country in general, has been a major recipient of millions of immigrants from all over the world , making it a melting pot where several ethnic groups live together. Thus, Buenos Aires is considered one of the most diverse cities of the Americas . Buenos Aires held the 1st FIBA World Championship in 1950 and 11th FIBA World Championship in 1990 , the 1st Pan American Games in 1951 ,
14027-400: The city. The population of Greater Buenos Aires was 13,147,638 according to 2010 census data. The population density in Buenos Aires proper was 13,680 inhabitants per square kilometer (35,400 inhabitants/sq mi), but only about 2,400/km (6,200/sq mi) in the suburbs. Buenos Aires' population has hovered around 3 million since 1947, due to low birth rates and a slow migration to
14196-575: The coast of what is today the modern city. Pedro de Mendoza called the city "Holy Mary of the Fair Winds", a name suggested by the chaplain of Mendoza's expedition – a devotee of the Virgin of Buen Ayre – after the Madonna of Bonaria from Sardinia (which is still to this day the patroness of the Mediterranean island ). Mendoza's settlement soon came under attack by indigenous people and
14365-479: The conservative opposition and business people to his cabinet. To prevent successful legal cases against pro-market economic reforms, the Supreme Court 's numbers were increased from five to nine judges; the new judges ruled in support of Menem and usually had the majority. Other institutions that restrained or limited executive power were controlled as well. When Congress resisted some of his proposals, he used
14534-469: The current Argentine government is that military presidents Jorge Rafael Videla and Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri were explicitly not legitimate presidents. They and their immediate successors were denied the right to a presidential pension after the conclusion of their terms. The status of earlier military presidents, however, remains more uncertain. The president of the nation has the following powers granted by Constitution (Article 99): Article 89 of
14703-545: The deficit caused by it. Initially, the plan was a success: the capital flight ended, interest rates were lowered, inflation fell to single digits, and economic activity increased; in that year alone, the gross domestic product grew at a rate of 10.5%. The money from privatizations allowed Argentina to repurchase many of the Brady Bonds issued during the crisis. The privatizations of electricity , water , and gas services were more successful than previous ones. YPF ,
14872-606: The deployment of the Metropolitan Police of Buenos Aires is ongoing. Beginning in 2007, the city has embarked on a new decentralization scheme, creating new Communes ( comunas ) which are to be managed by elected committees of seven members each. Buenos Aires is represented in the Argentine Senate by three senators (as of 2017 , Martín Lousteau , Mariano Recalde and Guadalupe Tagliaferri ). The people of Buenos Aires also elect 25 national deputies to
15041-449: The dreaded disease. People ignored public-health campaigns to limit the spread of contagious diseases, such as the prohibition of spitting on the streets, the strict guidelines to care for infants and young children, and quarantines that separated families from ill loved ones. In addition to the wealth generated by customs duties and Argentine foreign trade in general, as well as the existence of fertile pampas , railroad development in
15210-415: The economic system was vulnerable to capital flight. The growing discontent over unemployment and the scandals caused by the privatization of the postal service led to Cavallo's removal as a minister, and his replacement by Roque Fernández . Fernández maintained Cavallo's fiscal austerity ; he increased the price of fuels, sold the remaining state shares of YPF to Repsol , fired state employees, and raised
15379-471: The economy. It was difficult for Argentine companies to export, and easy imports damaged most national producers. The national budget soon slid into a deficit. Cavallo soon began the second wave of privatizations, this time targeting the national postal service, the Correo Argentino , and the country's nuclear power plants. He also limited the amount of money released to the provinces. He still had
15548-406: The eight planned were put up at the time, they were mostly obtrusive raised freeways that continue to blight a number of formerly comfortable neighborhoods to this day. The city was visited by Pope John Paul II twice, firstly in 1982 and again in 1987; on these occasions gathered some of the largest crowds in the city's history. The return of democracy in 1983 coincided with a cultural revival, and
15717-404: The elected governor of La Rioja, was allied with Menem, and had campaigned for him. However, weak provincial finances forced Maza to switch his support to Kirchner, which weakened Menem's influence even further. In June 2004 Menem announced that he had founded a new faction within the Partido Justicialista, called "People's Peronism". He announced his intention to run in the 2007 election . In 2005,
15886-428: The elections for a third term with Larreta as mayor and Diego Santilli as deputy. In these elections, PRO was stronger in wealthier northern Buenos Aires, while ECO was stronger in the southern, poorer neighborhoods of the city. On 5 December 2023, Jorge Macri of PRO was sworn in as new mayor of Buenos Aires City to succeed outgoing Mayor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta of the same party. The city of Buenos Aires lies in
16055-471: The elections with more than 50% of the vote, followed by José Octavio Bordón and Carlos Álvarez. The UCR finished third in the elections for the first time. Growing unemployment increased popular resistance against Menem after his re-election. There were several riots and demonstrations in the provinces, unions opposed the economic policies, and the opposing parties organized the first cacerolazos . Estanislao Esteban Karlic replaced Antonio Quarracino as
16224-525: The existing Viceroyalty of Peru , creating the new Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata . The head of state continued to be the king, but he was represented locally by the viceroy . These viceroys were seldom natives of the country. By the 18-25 May Revolution in 1810, the first Argentine autonomous government , known as the Primera Junta , was formed in Buenos Aires . It was later known as
16393-453: The federal government was undertaken by a military junta , where power was shared by the chiefs of the armed forces. In 1962, the president of the Senate ruled, but in the other cases, a military chief assumed the title of president. It is debatable whether these military presidents can properly be called presidents, as there are issues with the legitimacy of their governments. The position of
16562-466: The following decades. At this time, there was no central authority, and the closest to that was the chairman of foreign relations, typically the governor of the province of Buenos Aires. The last to bear this title was Juan Manuel de Rosas , who in the last years of his governorship was elected Supreme Chief of the Confederation , gaining effective rule of the rest of the country. In 1852, Rosas
16731-406: The foreign powers eventually desisted from their demands. During most of the 19th century, the political status of the city remained a sensitive subject. It was already the capital of Buenos Aires Province , and between 1853 and 1860 it was the capital of the seceded State of Buenos Aires . The issue was fought out more than once on the battlefield, until the matter was finally settled in 1880 when
16900-506: The full support of Menem, despite growing opposition within the Justicialist Party. The Mexican Tequila Crisis of 1994 impacted the national economy, causing the deficit, recession, and a growth in unemployment. The government further reduced public expenditures, the wages of state workers, and raised taxes. The deficit and recession were reduced, but unemployment stayed high. External debt increased. The crisis also proved that
17069-467: The greatest number of votes, 24%, in the first round of the 27 April 2003 presidential election ; but votes were split among numerous parties. Under the 1994 amendment, a presidential candidate can win outright by winning 45% of the vote, or 40% if the margin of victory is 10 or more percentage points. This set the stage for Argentina's first-ever ballotage between Menem and second-place finisher, and fellow Peronist, Néstor Kirchner , who had received 22%. It
17238-596: The head of the Argentine Episcopal Conference , which led to a growing opposition to Menem from the Church. The teachers' unions established a "white tent" at the Congressional plaza as a form of protest. The first piqueteros operated in Cutral Có , and this protest method was soon imitated in the rest of the country. Menem's authority in the Partido Justicialista was also held in doubt, as he
17407-674: The hill. In 1335, King Alfonso the Gentle donated the church to the Mercedarians , who built an abbey that stands to this day. In the years after that, a story circulated, claiming that a statue of the Virgin Mary was retrieved from the sea after it miraculously calmed a storm in the Mediterranean Sea . The statue was placed in the abbey. Spanish sailors, especially Andalusians , venerated this image and frequently invoked
17576-474: The intention of obtaining their approval. Instead, the enterprise fueled tensions between the capital and the provinces; many of these missions ended in violent clashes. In the 19th century the city was blockaded twice by naval forces: by the French from 1838 to 1840, and later by an Anglo-French expedition from 1845 to 1848. Both blockades failed to bring the Argentine government to the negotiating table, and
17745-408: The internal opposition of Fernando de la Rúa , Alfonsín got his party to approve the pact. He reasoned that Menem would be supported by the eventual referendum, that many legislators would turn to his side, and he would eventually be able to amend the constitution reinforcing presidential power rather than limiting it. Still, as both sides feared a betrayal, all the contents of the pact were included as
17914-424: The latter to privatize state enterprises – the first being telephones and airlines. These privatizations were beneficial to foreign creditors, who replaced their bonds with company shares. Despite increased tax revenue and the money gained from privatizations, the economy was still unstable. The Bunge and Born businessmen left the government in late 1989, amid a second round of hyperinflation . The first measure of
18083-502: The mayoral candidate for PRO. In the first round of voting, FPV's Mariano Recalde obtained 21.78% of the vote, while Martín Lousteau of the ECO party obtained 25.59% and Larreta obtained 45.55%, meaning that the elections went to a second round since PRO was unable to secure the majority required for victory. The second round was held on 19 July 2015 and Larreta obtained 51.6% of the vote, followed closely by Lousteau with 48.4%, thus, PRO won
18252-505: The military during the years of the junta). The silent marches of their mothers ( Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo ) are a well-known image of Argentines' suffering during those times. The dictatorship 's appointed mayor, Osvaldo Cacciatore , also drew up plans for a network of freeways intended to relieve the city's acute traffic gridlock. The plan, however, called for a seemingly indiscriminate razing of residential areas and, though only three of
18421-489: The most important streams are the Maldonado, Vega, Medrano, Cildañez, and White. In 1908, as floods were damaging the city's infrastructure, many streams were channeled and rectified; furthermore, starting in 1919, most streams were enclosed. Most notably, the Maldonado was tubed in 1954; it currently runs below Juan B. Justo Avenue . Buenos Aires has over 250 parks and green spaces, the largest concentration of which are on
18590-471: The national oil refinery, was partially privatized as well, with the state keeping a good portion of its shares. The project to privatize the pension funds was resisted in Congress and was approved as a mixed system that allowed both public and private options for workers. The national state also signed a fiscal pact with the provinces, so that they reduced their local deficits as well; Buenos Aires Province
18759-400: The native Charrúa tribe in what is now Uruguay . The city of Buenos Aires was first established as Ciudad de Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Ayre (literally "City of Our Lady Saint Mary of the Fair Winds") after Our Lady of Bonaria (Patroness Saint of Sardinia ) on 2 February 1536 by a Spanish expedition led by Pedro de Mendoza . The settlement founded by Mendoza was located in what
18928-454: The new minister of economy, Antonio Erman González , was a mandatory conversion of time deposits into government bonds : the BONEX plan . It exacerbated the recession but was successful in reducing the inflation rate, which was its intended purpose. His fourth minister of economy, Domingo Cavallo , was appointed in 1991 and deepened the liberalization of the economy. The Convertibility plan
19097-496: The new statutes, with the mayor's title formally changed to "Head of Government". The winner was Fernando de la Rúa , who would later become President of Argentina from 1999 to 2001. De la Rúa's successor, Aníbal Ibarra , won two popular elections, but was impeached (and ultimately deposed on 6 March 2006) as a result of the fire at the República Cromagnon nightclub. In the meantime, Jorge Telerman , who had been
19266-541: The new viceroy Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros . This is known as the May Revolution , which is now celebrated as a national holiday. This event started the Argentine War of Independence , and many armies left Buenos Aires to fight the diverse strongholds of royalist resistance, with varying levels of success. The government was held first by two Juntas of many members, then by two triumvirates , and finally by
19435-403: The north brings hot temperatures. The city receives 1,257.6 mm (50 in) of precipitation per year. Because of its geomorphology along with an inadequate drainage network, the city is highly vulnerable to flooding during periods of heavy rainfall. Since the adoption of the city's Constitution in 1996, Buenos Aires has counted with a democratically elected executive; Article 61 of
19604-468: The number of workers as well, or risk bankruptcy. Unions were unable to resist the changes. People with low incomes, such as retirees and state workers, suffered under tax increases while their wages remained frozen. Some provinces, such as Santiago del Estero , Jujuy , and San Juan , endured violent riots as well. To compensate for these issues, the government started a number of social welfare programs and restored protectionist policies over some sectors of
19773-445: The opposition. "Carlos Menem's first presidency marked the end of a period fraught with uncertainties, during which successive de facto or constitutional national administrations had failed in trying to order the economy, curb monetary emission, and dismantle the powerful armed state apparatus in the 1940s during the presidency of Juan Perón and further enlarged by his successors. Menem drastically corrected, with accurate intuition and
19942-673: The permanent absence of both the president and the vice president, due to resignation, death, or removal, the Constitution (art. 88) entitles the National Congress Assembled to select a new president from among the current senators, deputies and governors , within the following two days of the death or resignation of the former president, and to provide him or her with a mandate to call for elections . Buenos Aires Buenos Aires ( / ˌ b w eɪ n ə s ˈ ɛər iː z / or /- ˈ aɪ r ɪ s / ; Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbwenos ˈajɾes] )
20111-539: The personnel of the Argentine Federal Police , especially in emergency situations, events of massive concurrence, and protection of tourist establishments . Urban Guard officials did not carry any weapons in the performing of their duties. Their basic tools were a HT radio transmitter and a whistle. As of March 2008 , the Guardia Urbana was removed. The Buenos Aires Metropolitan Police
20280-437: The political doctrines of Juan and Isabel Perón, and those who proposed a renovation of the party. The internal disputes ceased in 1987. Menem, with his prominent victory in his district, was one of the leading figures of the party and disputed its leadership. Antonio Cafiero , who had been elected governor of Buenos Aires Province , led the renewal of the Partido Justicialista, and was considered their most likely candidate for
20449-472: The possibility of house arrest. His minister of defence during the weapons sales, Oscar Camilión , was concurrently sentenced to 5 + 1 ⁄ 2 years. Menem was scheduled to attend a trial on the matter in which he was charged with "indirect responsibility", on 24 February 2021; but died ten days before that. In December 2008, the German multinational Siemens agreed to pay an $ 800 million fine to
20618-491: The presidency. Menem, on the other hand, was seen as a populist leader. Using a big tent approach, he got support from several unrelated political figures. As a result, he defeated Cafiero in the primary elections. He sought alliances with Bunge and Born , union leaders, former members of Montoneros , and the AAA, people from the church, " Carapintadas ", etc. He promised a "revolution of production" and huge wage increases, but it
20787-614: The president and the Quinta de Olivos their official residence. The president is entitled to use its staff and facilities. It has a summer residence in the town of Chapadmalal , in Buenos Aires Province , which is called the Presidential Unit Chapadmalal. The Presidential Guard is responsible for the security of the entire presidential family. To move the president uses aircraft that are part of
20956-570: The president and the vice president, the succession is regulated by the Law 20,972 ("Acephaly Law") . It provides that the executive power must be temporarily exercised (without assuming the title of president) by the provisional president of the Senate ; in his or her absence, by the president of the Chamber of Deputies ; and in the absence of both, by the president of the Supreme Court . In case of
21125-406: The president and vice president enjoy a salary paid by the national treasury, which can not be altered during the period of their appointment. During the same period, they may not hold any other office nor receive any other emolument from the nation or from any province. The president's salary is $ 131,421 Argentine pesos per month. The Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires is the official workplace of
21294-571: The press reported that he was trying to form an alliance with his former minister of economy Cavallo to fight in the parliamentary elections. Menem said that there had been only preliminary conversations and an alliance did not result. In the 23 October 2005 elections , Menem won the minority seat in the Senate representing his province of birth. The two seats allocated to the majority were won by President Kirchner's faction, locally led by Ángel Maza. Menem ran for Governor of La Rioja in August 2007, but
21463-790: The project) by which the authority over the 25,000-strong Argentine Federal Police and the responsibility over the federal institutions residing at the city (e.g., National Supreme Court of Justice buildings ) would not be transferred from the National Government to the Autonomous City Government until a new consensus could be reached at the National Congress. Furthermore, it declared that the Port of Buenos Aires , along with some other places, would remain under constituted federal authorities. As of 2011 ,
21632-411: The prosecutor Alberto Nisman charged Menem with covering up a local connection to the attack, as the local terrorists may have been distant Syrian relatives of the Menem family. However, Menem was never tried for this suspected cover-up, and on 18 January 2015, Nisman was found dead of a gunshot to his head at his home in Buenos Aires. On 15 March 1995, Menem's son Carlos Menem Jr. died while piloting
21801-410: The province of Buenos Aires to run for re-election. Duhalde stepped down from the vice presidency and became the new governor in the 1991 elections , turning the province into a powerful bastion. Menem also selected famous people with no political background to run for office in those elections, including the singer Palito Ortega and racing driver Carlos Reutemann . The elections were a big success for
21970-423: The required supermajority in the Congress to call for it. The Partido Justicialistal was divided, as other politicians intended to replace Menem in 1995 or negotiate their support. The UCR was divided as well, as Alfonsín opposed the proposal, but governors Angeloz and Massaccesi were open for negotiations. The victory in the 1993 elections strengthened his proposal, which was approved by the Senate. Menem called for
22139-564: The responsibility of the Buenos Aires City Police . The police is headed by the Chief of Police who is appointed by the head of the executive branch of the city of Buenos Aires. Geographically, the force is divided into 56 stations throughout the city. All police station employees are civilians. The Buenos Aires City Police force is composed of over 25,000 officers. In the census of 2010, there were 2,891,082 people residing in
22308-470: The second half of the 19th century increased the economic power of Buenos Aires as raw materials flowed into its factories. A leading destination for immigrants from Europe, particularly Italy and Spain, from 1880 to 1930, Buenos Aires became a multicultural city that ranked itself alongside the major European capitals. During this time, the Colón Theater became one of the world's top opera venues, and
22477-419: The services sector, particularly social services (25%), commerce and tourism (20%) and business and financial services (17%); despite the city's role as Argentina's capital, public administration employed only 6%. Manufacturing still employed 10%. The city is divided into barrios (neighborhoods) for administrative purposes, a division originally based on Catholic parroquias (parishes). A common expression
22646-466: The site for demonstrations and many of the country's political events; on 16 June 1955, however, a splinter faction of the Navy bombed the Plaza de Mayo area, killing 364 civilians (see Bombing of Plaza de Mayo ). This was the only time the city was attacked from the air, and the event was followed by a military uprising which deposed President Perón, three months later (see Revolución Libertadora ). In
22815-423: The suburbs. However, the surrounding districts have expanded over fivefold (to around 10 million) since then. The 2001 census showed a relatively aged population: with 17% under the age of fifteen and 22% over sixty, the people of Buenos Aires have an age structure similar to those in most European cities. They are older than Argentines as a whole (of whom 28% were under 15, and 14% over 60). Two-thirds of
22984-469: The taxes generated by the transport made them prohibitive. This scheme frustrated the traders of Buenos Aires, and a thriving informal, yet tolerated by the authorities, contraband industry developed inside the viceroyalties and with the Portuguese. This also instilled a deep resentment among porteños towards the Spanish authorities. Sensing these feelings, Charles III of Spain progressively eased
23153-636: The trade restrictions before finally declaring Buenos Aires an open port in the late 18th century. The capture of Portobelo in Panama by British forces also fueled the need to foster commerce via the Atlantic route, to the detriment of Lima-based trade. One of his rulings was to split a region from the Viceroyalty of Perú and create instead the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata , with Buenos Aires as
23322-456: The upper 70s%, which means the city is noted for moderate-to-heavy fogs during autumn and winter. July is the coolest month, with an average temperature of 11.0 °C (51.8 °F). Cold spells originating from Antarctica occur almost every year, and can persist for several days. Occasionally, warm air masses from the north bring warmer temperatures. The lowest temperature ever recorded in central Buenos Aires (Buenos Aires Central Observatory)
23491-415: Was 43.3 °C (110 °F) on 29 January 1957. In January 2022, a heatwave caused power grid failure in parts of Buenos Aires metropolitan area affecting more than 700,000 households. Winters are rather cool with mild temperatures during the day and chilly nights. Highs during the season average 16.6 °C (61.9 °F) while lows average 8.3 °C (46.9 °F). Relative humidity averages in
23660-531: Was a proscription . Several scandals erupted, such as the scandal over Argentine arms sales to Ecuador and Croatia , the Río Tercero explosion that may have destroyed evidence, the murder of the journalist José Luis Cabezas , and the suicide of Alfredo Yabrán , who may have ordered it. The Partido Justicialista lost the 1997 midterm elections against the UCR and the FREPASO united in a political coalition,
23829-433: Was abandoned in 1541. For many years, the name was attributed to a Sancho del Campo, who is said to have exclaimed: How fair are the winds of this land! as he arrived. In 1882, after conducting extensive research in Spanish archives, Argentine merchant Eduardo Madero ultimately concluded that the name was instead closely linked with the devotion of the sailors to Our Lady of Buen Ayre. A second (and permanent) settlement
23998-504: Was aided with a fund that gave the governor a million pesos daily. Although the Convertibility plan had positive consequences in the short term, it caused problems that surfaced later. Large numbers of employees of privatized state enterprises were fired, and unemployment grew to over 10%. Big compensation payments prevented an immediate public reaction. Free trade and the expensive costs in dollars forced private companies to reduce
24167-493: Was also found guilty of embezzlement, and sentenced to 4 + 1 ⁄ 2 years to prison. Domingo Cavallo, his economy minister, and Raúl Granillo Ocampo, Menem's former minister of justice, also received prison sentences of more than three years for participating in the scheme, and were ordered to repay hundreds of thousands of pesos' worth of illegal bonuses. President of Argentina The president of Argentina ( Spanish : Presidente de Argentina ; officially known as
24336-510: Was an old request of the Carapintadas in previous years. However, Menem did not apply their proposed changes to the military. The colonel, Mohamed Alí Seineldín , who was also pardoned, started a new mutiny, killing two military men. Unlike the mutinies that took place during the presidency of Alfonsín, the military fully obeyed Menem's orders for a forceful repression. Seineldín was utterly defeated, and sentenced to life imprisonment. This
24505-535: Was born on 2 July 1930 in Anillaco , a small town in the mountainous north of La Rioja Province , Argentina. His parents, Saúl Menem and Mohibe Akil, were Syrian nationals from Yabroud who had emigrated to Argentina . He attended elementary and high school in La Rioja, and joined a basketball team during his university studies. He visited Buenos Aires in 1951 with the team, and met the president Juan Perón and his wife Eva Perón . This influenced Menem to become
24674-461: Was defeated. He finished in third place with about 22% of the vote. This was viewed as a catastrophic defeat, signaling the end of his political dominance in La Rioja . It was the first time in 30 years that Menem had lost an election. Following this defeat in his home province, he withdrew his candidacy for president. At the end of 2009 he announced that he intended to run for the presidency again in
24843-750: Was defunct in 2016 and eventually replaced in 2023 by a Boeing 757-200 in VIP design, designated ARG-01 . The current presidential fleet also includes two Fokker F28 (T-02 and T-03) (one always in service) and Learjet 60 (T-10). The Learjet is also used by the Air Force chief of staff. As helicopters , a Sikorsky S-70 (H-01 ) and two Sikorsky S-76 (H-02 and H-03 ) also make-up the fleet, with an additional Air Force Bell 212 , as needed. During Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández administration AAP used different aircraft for their global flights, most notably Boeing 747 loaned from Aerolíneas Argentinas and
25012-549: Was deposed, and a constitutional convention was summoned. This constitution, still in force, established a national federal government, with the office of president. The term was fixed as six years, with no possibility of reelection. The first elected president under the constitution was Justo José de Urquiza , but Buenos Aires seceded from the Argentine Confederation as the State of Buenos Aires . Bartolomé Mitre
25181-557: Was drafted in 1826. This constitution was the first to create a president, although this office retained the powers described in the 1816 constitution. This constitution did come into force, resulting in the election of the first president, Bernardino Rivadavia . Because of the Cisplatine War , Rivadavia resigned after a short time, and the office was dissolved shortly thereafter. A civil war between unitarios (unitarians, i.e. Buenos Aires centralists) and federalists ensued in
25350-401: Was elected governor in 1973. He was deposed and detained during the 1976 Argentine coup d'état and was elected governor again in 1983. He defeated the Buenos Aires governor Antonio Cafiero in the primary elections for the 1989 presidential elections . Hyperinflation and riots forced outgoing president Raúl Alfonsín to resign early, shortening the presidential transition. Menem supported
25519-418: Was elected president. Menem ran for governor again and was elected by a clear margin. The province benefited from tax regulations established by the military, which allowed increased industrial growth. His party gained control of the provincial legislature, and he was re-elected in 1987 with 63% of the vote. The Partido Justicialista at the time was divided into two factions, the conservatives that still supported
25688-511: Was established in 1580 by Juan de Garay , who sailed down the Paraná River from Asunción , now the capital of Paraguay. Garay preserved the name originally chosen by Mendoza, calling the city Ciudad de la Santísima Trinidad y Puerto de Santa María del Buen Aire ("City of the Most Holy Trinity and Port of Saint Mary of the Fair Winds"). The short form that eventually became the city's name, "Buenos Aires", became commonly used during
25857-429: Was investigated on various criminal and corruption charges, including illegal arms trafficking (he was sentenced to seven years in prison), embezzlement of public funds (he was sentenced to 4 + 1 ⁄ 2 years to prison), extortion and bribery (in both of which he was declared innocent). His position as senator earned him immunity from incarceration. Menem ran for the presidency again in 2003 , but faced with
26026-596: Was lifted in February 1980. He returned to Buenos Aires, and then to La Rioja. He resumed his political activities, despite the prohibition, and was detained again. His new forced residence was in Las Lomitas in the province of Formosa . He was one of the last politicians to be released from prison by the National Reorganization Process . Military rule ended in 1983, and the Radical Raúl Alfonsín
26195-457: Was not clear exactly which policies he was proposing. The rival candidate, Eduardo Angeloz , tried to point out the mistakes made by Menem and Alfonsín. Jacques de Mahieu , a French ideologue of the Peronist movement (and former Vichy collaborator ), was photographed campaigning for Menem. His campaign slogans were ¡Siganme! (Follow me!) and ¡No los voy a defraudar! (I won't let you down!) The elections were held on 14 May 1989. Menem won by
26364-413: Was nullified by the constitutional reform of 1994, which added Article 36 (see below). Article 29 of the constitution of 1853 had an article that considered the usurpation of public power as 'treason', but was referred to the de jure rulers. For this reason the constitutional reform of 1994 included Article 36 which says: In summary, the article states: The office of vice president was established by
26533-474: Was ranked 91st in the world in 2018, being one of the best in Latin America . It is known for its preserved eclectic European architecture and rich cultural life . It is a multicultural city that is home to multiple ethnic and religious groups, contributing to its culture as well as to the dialect spoken in the city and in some other parts of the country. This is because since the 19th century,
26702-515: Was released on 29 July 1978, on the condition that he live in a city outside his home province without leaving it. He settled in Mar del Plata . Menem met Admiral Eduardo Massera , who intended to run for president, and had public meetings with personalities such as Carlos Monzón , Susana Giménez , and Alberto Olmedo . As a result, he was forced to reside in another city, Tandil . He had to report daily to Chief of Police Hugo Zamora. This forced residence
26871-430: Was repealed in 1957. After the 1966 military coup d'état, the regime shortened the presidential term to four years. However, political instability led to frequent turnovers in office. With the restoration of democracy in 1983, the term was restored to six years. Prior to the 1994 constitutional reform, the president and vice president were required to be Roman Catholics. This stipulation was abolished in 1994. As of 2015,
27040-423: Was sanctioned by Congress, setting a one-to-one fixed exchange rate between the United States dollar and the new peso , which replaced the austral . The law also limited public expenditures, but this was frequently ignored. Under Cavallo, there was increased free trade , alongside a general reduction of tariffs on imports and state regulations to tackle inflation, and high taxes on sales and earnings to reduce
27209-429: Was scheduled for 18 May. However, by that time, Menem had become very unpopular. Polls predicted that he faced almost certain defeat by Kirchner in the runoff. Most polls showed Kirchner taking at least 60 percent of the vote, and at least one poll showed Menem losing by as many as 50 points. To avoid a humiliating defeat, Menem withdrew his candidacy on 14 May, effectively handing the presidency to Kirchner. Ángel Maza ,
27378-402: Was sworn into office on 10 December 2023. He succeeded Alberto Fernández . The constitution of Argentina, along with several constitutional amendments , establishes the requirements, powers, and responsibilities of the president, the term of office and the method of election. The origins of Argentina as a nation can be traced to 1776, when it was separated by King Charles III of Spain from
27547-663: Was the dispute over the Southern Patagonian Ice Field , which is still open. Previously and contrary to other Peronist authorities, Menem voted for the Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1984 between Chile and Argentina . Chilean president Patricio Aylwin was at first sceptical towards his Argentine counterpart whom he according to Emol considered "scruffy" ( Spanish : destartalado ). Over time however Aylwin changed his opinion, saying at one point "this Turk wins everybody over" ( este turco se los conquista
27716-519: Was the first president of the unified country, when Buenos Aires rejoined the confederation. Thus, Rivadavia, Urquiza, and Mitre are considered the first presidents of Argentina by different historians: Rivadavia for being the first one to use the title, Urquiza for being the first one to rule under the 1853 constitution, and Mitre for being the first president of Argentina under its current national limits. In 1930, 1943, 1955, 1962, 1966, and 1976, military coups deposed elected presidents. In 1966 and 1976,
27885-456: Was the last military mutiny in Argentina. The president effected drastic cuts to the military budget, and privatized military factories. Menem appointed Lt. Gen. Martín Balza , who had performed well during the repression of Seineldín's mutiny, as the Army's General Chief of Staff (head of the military hierarchy). The death of a conscript soldier in 1994, victim of abuses by his superiors, led to
28054-552: Was the police force under the authority of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. The force was created in 2010 and was composed of 1,850 officers. In 2016, the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Police and part of the Argentine Federal Police were merged to create the new Buenos Aires City Police force. The Buenos Aires City Police force began operations on 1 January 2017. Security in the city is now
28223-519: Was the site of two venues in the 1978 FIFA World Cup and one in the 1982 FIVB Men's World Championship . Most recently, Buenos Aires had a venue in the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship and in the 2002 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship , hosted the 125th IOC Session in 2013, the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics and the 2018 G20 summit . Aragonese archives record that Catalan missionaries and Jesuits arriving in Cagliari ( Sardinia ) under
28392-405: Was unable to run for another re-election and the party sought a candidate for the 1999 elections. This led to a fierce rivalry with Duhalde, the most likely candidate. Menem attempted to undermine his chances, and proposed a new amendment to the constitution allowing him to run for an unlimited number of re-elections. He also started a judicial case, claiming that his inability to run for a third term
28561-447: Was −5.4 °C (22 °F) on 9 July 1918. Snow is very rare in the city: the last snowfall occurred on 9 July 2007 when, during the coldest winter in Argentina in almost 30 years, severe snowfalls and blizzards hit the country. It was the first major snowfall in the city in 89 years. Spring and autumn are characterized by changeable weather conditions. Cold air from the south can bring cooler temperatures while hot humid air from
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