2017-04-18 Tue

Arturo Frondizi, the leader of the Argentine Radical Party and the first legally elected Argentine President after the fall of Juan Peron, left us today, April 18 in 1995. Originally interested in Marxist theory, he later joined the Radical Party of President Hipolito Irigoyen also known as Radical Civic Union (UCR). He gained prominence in their left wing.

He adopted a pragmatic approach in his presidential elections and called for democratization while also incorporating Peronists into the political process. This caused the split of the UCR into Intransigent Radical Party (UCRI) that supported Peronists and Peoples Radical Party (UCRP) anti-Peronists.

Frondizi, with the support of the Peronists, won not only the presidency but also control of the National Congress and all of the provincial governorships. As President, he implemented a series of austerity measures placing a severe burden on the poor and middle class. This resulted in strikes, demonstrations, and confrontations with police. Though his economic policies were harsh, they would eventually lead to rapid industrialization and economic resurgence.

When he attempted to lift the ban on Peronists and secretly met Ernesto Guevara, an emissary of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro the military withdrew his support. This forced Frondizi to resign in March 1962.

Correo Argentino (Argentine Post) issued this 1 Argentine Peso commemorative stamp of Dr. Arturo Frondizi on 26th April 2008. His bust is printed on a fluorescent stamp and around 80,000 stamps were released. Though his Presidency was full of ups and downs, he still remained popular among his citizens.