Eduardo Duhalde President of Argentina Country: Argentina

1. Biography of Eduardo Duhalde
2. Political Career
3. Challenges and Presidency
4. Personal Life

Biography of Eduardo Duhalde

Eduardo Duhalde, a prominent Argentine politician and lawyer, was born in 1941. He spent much of his political career serving the people of Buenos Aires and Argentina as a whole.

Political Career

Duhalde's political journey began in the 1970s when he became the head of one of Buenos Aires' suburbs. He later served as a deputy in the lower house of parliament from 1987 to 1989, where he held the position of First Deputy Chairman. During this time, he formed a partnership with Carlos Menem and ran as the vice-president of Argentina, successfully winning the election in 1989.

After their victory, Duhalde served as the vice-president of Argentina from 1989 to 1991 under the presidency of Carlos Menem. Following his term as vice-president, Duhalde was appointed as the governor of the influential province of Buenos Aires, a position he held for two terms from 1991 to 1999.

Challenges and Presidency

When Duhalde assumed the presidency, Argentina was facing a severe economic crisis, characterized by rapid changes and a sharp devaluation of the country's currency, the Argentine peso. The country's savings were frozen in bank accounts, and Duhalde promised to restore the savings of those who held dollars in their accounts, while those with pesos would receive pesos back, albeit potentially devalued.

The new president had to take responsibility for the inevitable devaluation of the Argentine peso, which had been pegged to the US dollar for a decade. He also faced significant challenges, such as a budget deficit of 9 billion pesos, a 33% decrease in tax collections in December, a 4% decrease in the country's GDP, and an external debt exceeding 130 billion dollars.

Despite the daunting circumstances, Duhalde took on the role of president, determined to lead Argentina through the crisis and restore stability to the country.

Personal Life

Eduardo Duhalde, at the time of assuming the presidency, was 60 years old. He belonged to the largest political party in Argentina, the Justicialist Party (also known as the Peronist Party). Outside of politics, Duhalde was an accomplished lawyer. He was married and had five children, as well as twin grandchildren.

As president, Duhalde faced immense challenges but remained committed to guiding Argentina through its economic crisis. His determination and political experience positioned him to make significant decisions and implement necessary reforms to stabilize the country's economy.