Agustin Rossi Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers from 15 February 2023 Date of Birth: 18.10.1959 Country: Argentina

1. Early Life and Political Beginnings
2. Provincial Political Career
3. Congressional Term and Ministry of Defense
4. Minister of National Defense (2019-2021)
5. Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers (2023-Present)

Early Life and Political Beginnings

Born on October 18, 1959, in Vera, Santa Fe, Agustín Rossi spent his early years in his small hometown. At age 17, he moved to Rosario to pursue his studies at the National University of Rosario, where he earned a degree in civil engineering.

In the 1970s, Rossi became involved in the Peronist Youth University, eventually joining the Justicialist Party in the 1980s. In 1987, he was elected to the Rosario Deliberative Council, though he returned to his private practice in 1991.

Provincial Political Career

Rossi re-entered politics in 2001 and was elected to the Deliberative Council in 2002, serving as its president from 2004 to 2005. In the 2005 legislative elections, he ran for a seat in the lower house of Congress on the "Victory Front" list, the largest faction of the Justicialist Party formed by supporters of President Néstor Kirchner.

Rossi's campaign leveraged Kirchner's successful policies at the national level and focused on seeking endorsements; still little-known in the province, Rossi presented himself as "Kirchner's candidate." The Victory Front list led by Rossi came second (with 33% of the votes) to the Socialist Party list led by Hermes Binner (43%).

Congressional Term and Ministry of Defense

As the head of the Victory Front bloc in the lower house of Congress, Rossi became responsible for enforcing party discipline while securing legislative support for Kirchner's policies. He stated that "the [ruling party] bloc plays a fundamental role for the legislative branch of government. I cannot conceive of a [government party] bloc that doubts or criticizes the government's projects. Society tells us: 'I am voting for you to strengthen the course of action initiated by the president.'"

Rossi ran in the FpV primary elections for the governorship of Santa Fe in the 2007 elections. His main intra-party rival was Rafael Bielsa, a national deputy and former foreign minister who was a native of Rosario. The mayor of Rafaela, Omar Perotti, also campaigned for a while but eventually stepped down and endorsed Bielsa.

In a classic caudillo manner prevalent in Argentine politics in the past century, Rossi insisted on holding primary elections, even though some members of the party, including Bielsa, would have preferred to negotiate the nomination through consensus. Rossi also said he wanted Bielsa's sister, María Eugenia (then vice-governor of Santa Fe), as his running mate, though he eventually chose Jorge Fernández, the former education minister during Víctor Reviglio's governorship.

Bielsa ended up being chosen as the party's candidate in the July 1, 2007, primary elections but subsequently lost the general election to Socialist Hermes Binner. Rossi continued his role as majority leader in the Chamber of Deputies as the head of the Victory Front bloc, which maintained a majority in the chamber.

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner appointed him as Argentina's Minister of Defense on May 30, 2013.

Minister of National Defense (2019-2021)

On December 10, 2019, President Alberto Fernández re-appointed Rossi as Minister of National Defense and tasked him with traveling to Chile to offer assistance in the search and rescue efforts for the missing Hercules C130 aircraft. Rossi remained in the position until 2021.

Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers (2023-Present)

On February 15, 2023, Rossi was appointed as the Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers by President Alberto Fernández.