The Argentinian ex-president Carlos Menem has died at the age of 90 after a week of illness. Menem led the country from 1989 to 1999. President Alberto Fernández announced his death and declared three days of national mourning.
Menem steered Argentina out of a deep recession through an extensive privatization program into a free-market economy that neighboring countries looked to envy. He halted the deep fall of the Argentine peso by pegging the currency to the US dollar. At the same time, unemployment, the difference between rich and poor and the foreign debt burden increased rapidly.
His course was far from that of his old teacher, General and President Peron, who advocated a state-controlled society and economy.
Menem’s critics portrayed him as a playboy. Adorned with medium hair and long sideburns, he did indeed enjoy being around celebrities such as Madonna and the Rolling Stones.
Strong bond with the US
Menem tightened ties with the US and brought Argentine soldiers to participate in the first Gulf War against Iraq in 1991. Despite strong opposition from human rights organizations, he granted amnesty to former members of the military junta who had been convicted of the disappearance of many dissidents under the dictatorship from 1976 to 1983. In addition, he also released former guerrillas from that period, in his own words in order to make national reconciliation possible.
After his resignation, Menem was involved in several controversies. For example, he was convicted of involvement in the sale of weapons to Croatia (during the Balkan War) and Ecuador in spite of an arms embargo against those countries. He managed to stay out of the cell because he enjoyed immunity as a senator. He remained a senator until his death.
–
