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Roberto ViolaPresident of Argentina in 1981.
Date of Birth: 13.10.1924
Country:  Argentina |
Content:
- Roberto Viola
- Involvement in Military Coup and Presidency
- Economic Crisis and Political Dialogue
- Removal from Office
- Controversial Statements and War Crimes
- Arrest and Imprisonment
- Legacy and Burial
Roberto Viola
Early Life and Military CareerRoberto Viola was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1924 to Italian immigrant parents. He embarked on a military career, completing higher military education and serving in the army for 37 years. In 1973, he became secretary to the head of the Argentine army, Leandro Anaya. In 1975, he was appointed chief of staff of the army.
Involvement in Military Coup and Presidency
Viola played a key role in the military coup that overthrew Isabel Perón in 1976. In 1978, as lieutenant general, he assumed command of the country's ground forces. On March 29, 1981, he succeeded General Jorge Rafael Videla as President of Argentina due to internal military conflicts and Videla's failure to stabilize the economy and social order.
Economic Crisis and Political Dialogue
During Viola's presidency, he allowed some politicians and civil servants to return to their positions. However, the economic crisis worsened, leading to a 30% devaluation of the peso and inflation reaching 131%. Foreign investment also declined significantly. Faced with these challenges, Viola initiated multilateral negotiations with political parties.
Removal from Office
On December 11, 1981, the military junta declared Viola unfit to serve as president due to "health reasons" and transferred his powers to Vice Admiral Carlos Lacoste, who was himself replaced by General Leopoldo Galtieri a week later.
Controversial Statements and War Crimes
Viola faced criticism for his public statements regarding the investigation of missing persons during the military dictatorship. He asserted that "there could be no talk of it" and compared the situation to World War II, claiming that if the Nazis had won, the trials of war criminals would have taken place in the United States instead of Nuremberg.
Arrest and Imprisonment
In 1983, under President Raúl Alfonsín, Viola was arrested and sentenced to 17 years in prison by a civilian court on December 9, 1985. He was stripped of his military rank but was released in 1990 under pressure from the military by President Carlos Menem.
Legacy and Burial
Roberto Viola died in Buenos Aires in 1994 and was buried in La Chacarita Cemetery. His legacy remains controversial, marked by his role in the military dictatorship and his failure to address the economic and social challenges faced by Argentina during his presidency.
