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Carlos Menem
Argentine politician, president of Argentina from 1989 to 1999 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Carlos Saúl Menem (July 2, 1930 – February 14, 2021) was an Argentine politician and writer. He was the President of Argentina from July 8, 1989 to December 10, 1999.[1] From 1973 to 1976 and again from 1983 to 1989, Menem was Governor of La Rioja.
Carlos Menem | |
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![]() Official presidential portrait of Menem | |
47th President of Argentina | |
In office July 8, 1989 – December 10, 1999 | |
Vice President | Eduardo Duhalde (1989-1991) None (1991-1995) Carlos Ruckauf (1995-1999) |
Preceded by | Raúl Alfonsín |
Succeeded by | Fernando de la Rúa |
National Senator of Argentina | |
In office December 10, 2005 – February 14, 2021 | |
Constituency | La Rioja |
Governor of La Rioja | |
In office December 10, 1983 – July 8, 1989 | |
Vice Governor | Bernabé Arnaudo |
Preceded by | Military Junta |
Succeeded by | Bernabé Arnaudo |
In office May 25, 1973 – March 24, 1976 | |
Preceded by | Military Junta |
Succeeded by | Military Junta |
Personal details | |
Born | Carlos Saúl Menem (1930-07-02)July 2, 1930 Anillaco, La Rioja, Argentina |
Died | February 14, 2021(2021-02-14) (aged 90) Buenos Aires, Argentina |
Nationality | Argentine |
Political party | Justicialist |
Spouse(s) | Zulema Yoma (1966–91) (divorced) Cecilia Bolocco (2001–11) (divorced) |
Relations | Saúl Menem Mohibe Akil |
Children | Zulema Menem Carlos Saúl Facundo Menem Carlos Nair Menem Máximo Saúl Menem |
Profession | Lawyer |
Signature | ![]() |
Menem was the first Argentine president to visit Israel.[2] He was a supporter of Peronist ideas.
After he moved to Chile, Argentina tried to extradite him. In 2005, he became Senator for La Rioja.
In 2003, he ran for president again and narrowly won the first round of the election. However he dropped out of the race after seeing that Néstor Kirchner would beat him in the second round.
Some Argentines believe that his name brings bad luck, something that Menem also believed.[3][4]
On 15 December 2020, he was hospitalized in Buenos Aires for a urinary tract infection.[5][6][7] On 24 December, he suffered from kidney failure and was in a coma.[8][9] Menem died on 14 February 2021 from problems caused by the infection, aged 90.[10]