Perón, Juan Domingo

Perón, Juan Domingo (1895-1974), founder and leader of the Peronist party, president of Argentina (1946-1955 and 1973-1974), and one of the most remarkable Latin American figures of the 20th century, who wrought long-lasting changes in the nation's politics.

Born in Lobos, Buenos Aires Province, on October 8, 1895, Perón was educated at the Colegio Militar (1911-1913) and at the Escuela Superior de Guerra (1926-1929). In 1930 he took part in a military uprising against President Hipólito Irigoyen and was appointed private secretary to the minister of war (1930-1935). He later taught at the Escuela Superior de Guerra, spent a year in Chile as military attaché, published five books on military history, and travelled to Italy to study alpine military methods. Upon his return to Argentina in 1941, Perón, an admirer of the Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, joined other officers in a secret military lodge that staged a coup d'état in June 1943. He took over the department of labour and proceeded to transform the labour movement by weakening the influence of left-wing parties on it, enacting new laws and implementing old ones, and creating new unions. He achieved popularity with the working classes, but as his power grew—he was made vice-president as well as minister of war—opposition within the armed forces became widespread. On October 9, 1945, he was forced to resign from his posts, detained, and imprisoned. Perón's resignation triggered a government crisis that was resolved on October 17, when his mistress and labour supporters obtained his release. Four days later, Perón, a widower, married his mistress, María Eva Duarte, who became fondly known as Evita.

Following a repressive and tyrannical election campaign, Perón was elected president in 1946 with 56 per cent of the vote. He fashioned a revolutionary movement (Peronismo), pursuing labour and nationalist policies, with the help of his wife, who became an influential, although informal, member of his government. In the early 1950s, however, benefits to the urban working class began to diminish. The death of Evita (1952), economic difficulties, increasing labour unrest, and his excommunication by the Roman Catholic Church further weakened Perón's government. His overthrow at the hands of the army in 1955 reflected popular opposition to Perón's dictatorial style of rule. Through 18 years of exile, however, Perón retained his labour support and influence in Argentine politics, trying to ensure that his Peronist followers (of whom there were about one million) achieved power. He was finally allowed to return to Argentina after the Peronists had gained control of the presidency in the 1973 elections, and was re-elected president with his third wife, Isabel de Perón, as vice-president. He died in office on July 1, 1974, and was succeeded by his wife.