July 8, 2016

Tomorrow, July 9, Argentines will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the signing of their nation’s declaration of independence. President Mauricio Macri will lead Nueve de Julio (Ninth of July) ceremonies at the house in northwestern San Miguel de Tucumán where the signing took place on July 9, 1816. Other dignitaries scheduled to attend include former Spanish King Juan Carlos and leaders from several Latin American countries.

Representatives signed Argentina’s declaration of independence at the Congress of Tucumán on July 9, 1816. Credit: © Everett/Shutterstock

Earlier in the week, Argentine lawmakers and political leaders met at Tucumán to commemorate the bicentennial. Emilio Monzó, speaker of the lower house, called the gathering “an unprecedented event in the history of our country that representatives from the National Congress travel to the place where our country was born.” Senate leader Federico Pinedo, Tucumán Governor Juan Manzur, and Argentine Vice President Gabriela Michetti also attended the midweek commemoration.

The 1816 signing of the declaration of independence took place during a turbulent period in Argentina’s history—a period, in fact, before the nation was called Argentina. It was then known as the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, and it covered only the current nation’s northern half above Patagonia. The declaration of independence also came six years after the formation of a government independent of Spain on May 25, 1810, in Buenos Aires. The area had been part of a Spanish colony since the late 1500’s.

After establishing self-rule in 1810, it took awhile to unite Buenos Aires with the various Argentine provinces. Eventually, provincial representatives met at the Congress of Tucumán on July 9, 1816, and declared their nation’s independence. The new nation had a rough go of it, however, suffering through a civil war and decades of dictatorship before the constitution of 1853 established a republic, which was renamed Argentina in 1860. The nation grew to include Patagonia in 1881.

November 24, 2015

On Nov. 22, 2015, Argentines voted for significant change. In a presidential runoff contest, voters elected opposition candidate Mauricio Macri of the center-right Cambiemos coalition. Cambiemos is Spanish for let’s change. It was the first presidential run-off in Argentina’s history. Macri defeated Daniel Scioli, the candidate of the governing Peronists, with about 51 percent of the vote. Scioli beat Macri in the first round of voting on October 25, but not with enough votes to be declared president. Scioli is a former vice president of Argentina who belongs to the Front for Victory.

Opposition candidate Mauricio Macri celebrates after winning a runoff presidential election in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015. Macri won Argentina’s historic runoff election against ruling party candidate Daniel Scioli. Credit: © Ricardo Mazalan, AP Photo

Macri’s election ended more than a decade of government by the Peronists, led by former President Néstor Kirchner, then his wife, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, since 2003. Fernández de Kirchner, who has served two terms as president, was constitutionally barred from seeking a third term. Historically, the Peronists have supported populist policies aimed at helping ordinary people. However, under Fernández de Kirchner, Argentina also has experienced high inflation, weak economic growth, and a large deficit. In addition, Fernández de Kirchner has created conflict with her public attacks on critics of the government and her confrontational stance regarding the Falkland Islands, claimed by both Argentina and the United Kingdom.

Macri, a wealthy businessman of Italian ancestry, is the mayor of Buenos Aires and a former president of the popular Boca Juniors soccer team. He ran on campaign promises to reduce the state’s control over the economy; bring new investment to Argentina; fight narcotics trafficking and political corruption; and change foreign policy, for example by strengthening ties with the United States. Although Macri has said that he will not reverse all the government’s leftist policies, his critics fear he will end social welfare programs. Scioli warned voters that Macri would introduce “savage capitalism” in government. However, Sunday’s election indicated that for many voters, Macri represented hope, a fresh start, and a chance for real change in a country with some real problems. Macri is expected to take office on December 10.

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      Perón, Juan Domingo