Carlos Raúl Contín
Encyclopedia
Carlos Raúl Contín was an Argentine
politician and leader of the centrist Radical Civic Union
(UCR).
, Contín enrolled in the National University of the Littoral
and became a biochemist by profession. He married Nelida Biaggioni, a native of the city of Gálvez, Santa Fe
Province, in 1946. Contín campaigned from his youth for the UCR, representing the party as alderman of his city, Nogoyá, at the age of 30 years. A leader of the UCR's "Unionist" wing (the faction most opposed to populist leader Juan Perón
), he became prominent in the Entre Rios UCR when this faction eclipsed the pro-Perón "Renewal" wing. Following Perón's 1955 overthrow, and with a schism in the UCR during their 1956 convention, he joined the more conservative People's Radical Civic Union (UCRP). The rival Intransigent Radical Civic Union
(UCRI) won the 1958 elections
with the exiled Perón's endorsement, though Contín was elected to the Lower House of Congress
for Entre Ríos Province; he was reelected in 1960, but lost his seat when President Arturo Frondizi
was overthrown in 1962.
Ahead of new elections in 1963
, Contín was nominated as the UCRP candidate for governor of his province in a ticket with the Mayor of Concepción del Uruguay
, Teodoro Marco. The duo defeated the UCRI, securing 113,436 votes (33%), versus the latter's 94,660 (28%). The UCR returned to power in Entre Ríos after 20 years, having last governed the important province from 1914 to 1943.
His government had no majority in the provincial House of Representatives, but was able to enact significant initiatives largely due to the skill of the UCRP caucus leader, César Jaroslavsky
. In this way, Contín was able to resume the stalled construction of the Hernandarias Subfluvial Tunnel
that would link the city of Paraná
to Santa Fe
(June 1, 1964), to create the Ministry of Social Policy, the School of Social Work, School of Nursing, the Editorial de Entre Ríos publishing house, power plants, 120 primary schools, and numerous new provincial roads.
Overthrown, as was a fellow UCRP leader, President Arturo Illia, by the self-styled Revolución Argentina coup in 1966, Contin continued to be active in his party, which had retaken control of the UCR through the leadership of Ricardo Balbín
. With a renewed call for elections in 1973
, Contín joined former the Vice Ppresident under Illia and fellow Entre Ríos figure, Carlos Perette, as a candidate for the Argentine Senate
on the UCR ticket, and though Contín reached a runoff election, he was defeated by the Peronist candidate amid euphoria surrounding the aging Perón's return from exile.
Contín was elected 1st Vice President of the UCR's National Committee in 1975. Following the 1981 death of the party's longtime chair, Ricardo Balbín, he then succeeded as chair of the UCR, becoming also the head of the Multiparty Movement organized with Peronists and other political forces in calling for the end of the repressive and financially profligate dictatorship
installed in 1976.
After the defeat of Argentina in the Falklands War
in 1982, the last dictator, General Reynaldo Bignone
, signalled support for prompt elections. Contín, however, lost support from the majority of UCR delegates, who shifted towrds the center-left leader of the "Movement for Renewal and Change" faction, Raúl Alfonsín
. Alfonsín had been among the few political figures of any party to punlicly oppose the ill-conceived invasion, and succeeded Contín as president of the National Committee of the UCR.
Elections
ultimately took place on October 30, 1983, and Alfonsín was elected President of Argentina. Contín accepted a post as Vice President of the Central Bank, though his health declined in subsequent years. His son, Carlos Alberto Contín, served as President of the Entre Ríos House of Reprsentatives from 1983 to 1985.
The senior Contín died on August 8, 1991, in Buenos Aires
, during surgery; his remains rest in his hometown.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
politician and leader of the centrist Radical Civic Union
Radical Civic Union
The Radical Civic Union is a political party in Argentina. The party's positions on issues range from liberal to social democratic. The UCR is a member of the Socialist International. Founded in 1891 by radical liberals, it is the oldest political party active in Argentina...
(UCR).
Life and times
Born in NogoyáNogoyá
Nogoyá is a city in the province of Entre Ríos, Argentina. It has 22,285 inhabitants per the , and is the head town of the Nogoyá Department. It lies in the southwest of the province, by the Nogoyá Stream , about 95 km southeast from the provincial capital Paraná, on National Route 12.The main...
, Contín enrolled in the National University of the Littoral
National University of the Littoral
The National University of the Littoral is a university in Argentina. It is based in Santa Fe, the capital of the province of the same name, and it has colleges and other academic facilities in Esperanza, Reconquista and Gálvez, also in Santa Fe Province.-History:The original institution was...
and became a biochemist by profession. He married Nelida Biaggioni, a native of the city of Gálvez, Santa Fe
Gálvez, Santa Fe
Gálvez is a city in the center of the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, south of the provincial capital Santa Fe. It has 18,374 inhabitants per the ....
Province, in 1946. Contín campaigned from his youth for the UCR, representing the party as alderman of his city, Nogoyá, at the age of 30 years. A leader of the UCR's "Unionist" wing (the faction most opposed to populist leader Juan Perón
Juan Perón
Juan Domingo Perón was an Argentine military officer, and politician. Perón was three times elected as President of Argentina though he only managed to serve one full term, after serving in several government positions, including the Secretary of Labor and the Vice Presidency...
), he became prominent in the Entre Rios UCR when this faction eclipsed the pro-Perón "Renewal" wing. Following Perón's 1955 overthrow, and with a schism in the UCR during their 1956 convention, he joined the more conservative People's Radical Civic Union (UCRP). The rival Intransigent Radical Civic Union
Intransigent Radical Civic Union
The Intransigent Radical Civic Union or UCRI is a defunct political party of Argentina.The UCRI developed from the centrist Radical Civic Union in 1956, following a split at the party's convention in Tucumán...
(UCRI) won the 1958 elections
Argentine general election, 1958
The Argentine general election of 1958 was held on 23 February. Voters chose both the President and their legislators and with a turnout of 90.9% , it produced the following results:-President:aAbstentions....
with the exiled Perón's endorsement, though Contín was elected to the Lower House of Congress
Argentine Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Argentine National Congress. This Chamber holds exclusive rights to create taxes, to draft troops, and to accuse the President, the ministers and the members of the Supreme Court before the Senate....
for Entre Ríos Province; he was reelected in 1960, but lost his seat when President Arturo Frondizi
Arturo Frondizi
Arturo Frondizi Ercoli was the President of Argentina between May 1, 1958, and March 29, 1962, for the Intransigent Radical Civic Union.-Early life:Frondizi was born in Paso de los Libres, Corrientes Province...
was overthrown in 1962.
Ahead of new elections in 1963
Argentine general election, 1963
The Argentine general election of 1963 was held on 7 July. Voters chose both the President and their legislators and with a turnout of 85.6%, it produced the following results:-President:aAbstentions.-Argentine Chamber of Deputies:...
, Contín was nominated as the UCRP candidate for governor of his province in a ticket with the Mayor of Concepción del Uruguay
Concepción del Uruguay
Concepción del Uruguay is a city in Argentina.It is located in the Entre Ríos province, on the western shore of the Uruguay River, some 320 kilometers north from Buenos Aires. Its population is about 65,000 inhabitants .-History:...
, Teodoro Marco. The duo defeated the UCRI, securing 113,436 votes (33%), versus the latter's 94,660 (28%). The UCR returned to power in Entre Ríos after 20 years, having last governed the important province from 1914 to 1943.
His government had no majority in the provincial House of Representatives, but was able to enact significant initiatives largely due to the skill of the UCRP caucus leader, César Jaroslavsky
César Jaroslavsky
César Jaroslavsky was an Argentine politician prominent in the UCR, the country's oldest existing political party.-Early life:...
. In this way, Contín was able to resume the stalled construction of the Hernandarias Subfluvial Tunnel
Hernandarias Subfluvial Tunnel
The Raúl Uranga – Carlos Sylvestre Begnis Subfluvial Tunnel , formerly known as the Hernandarias Subfluvial Tunnel, is an underwater road tunnel that connects the provinces of Entre Ríos and Santa Fe in Argentina, crossing the Paraná River between the capital of Entre Ríos, Paraná, and Santa Cándida...
that would link the city of Paraná
Paraná, Entre Ríos
Paraná is the capital city of the Argentine province of Entre Ríos, located on the eastern shore of the Paraná River, opposite the city of Santa Fe, capital of the neighbouring Santa Fe Province...
to Santa Fe
Santa Fe, Argentina
Santa Fe is the capital city of province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It sits in northeastern Argentina, near the junction of the Paraná and Salado rivers. It lies opposite the city of Paraná, to which it is linked by the Hernandarias Subfluvial Tunnel. The city is also connected by canal with the...
(June 1, 1964), to create the Ministry of Social Policy, the School of Social Work, School of Nursing, the Editorial de Entre Ríos publishing house, power plants, 120 primary schools, and numerous new provincial roads.
Overthrown, as was a fellow UCRP leader, President Arturo Illia, by the self-styled Revolución Argentina coup in 1966, Contin continued to be active in his party, which had retaken control of the UCR through the leadership of Ricardo Balbín
Ricardo Balbín
Ricardo Balbín was an Argentine lawyer and politician, and one of the most important figures of the centrist Radical Civic Union , for which he was the presidential nominee four times: in 1951, 1958, and twice in 1973....
. With a renewed call for elections in 1973
Argentine general election, March 1973
The first Argentine general election of 1973 was held on 11 March. Voters chose both the President and their legislators and with a turnout of 85.5%, it produced the following results:-President:...
, Contín joined former the Vice Ppresident under Illia and fellow Entre Ríos figure, Carlos Perette, as a candidate for the Argentine Senate
Argentine Senate
The Argentine Senate is the upper house of the Argentine National Congress. It has 72 senators: three for each province and three for the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires...
on the UCR ticket, and though Contín reached a runoff election, he was defeated by the Peronist candidate amid euphoria surrounding the aging Perón's return from exile.
Contín was elected 1st Vice President of the UCR's National Committee in 1975. Following the 1981 death of the party's longtime chair, Ricardo Balbín, he then succeeded as chair of the UCR, becoming also the head of the Multiparty Movement organized with Peronists and other political forces in calling for the end of the repressive and financially profligate dictatorship
National Reorganization Process
The National Reorganization Process was the name used by its leaders for the military government that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983. In Argentina it is often known simply as la última junta militar or la última dictadura , because several of them existed throughout its history.The Argentine...
installed in 1976.
After the defeat of Argentina in the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
in 1982, the last dictator, General Reynaldo Bignone
Reynaldo Bignone
Reynaldo Benito Antonio Bignone is an Argentine general who served as dictatorial President of Argentina from July 1, 1982 to December 10, 1983. In 2010, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in the kidnappings, torture, and murders of the Dirty War.-Early career:Reynaldo Benito...
, signalled support for prompt elections. Contín, however, lost support from the majority of UCR delegates, who shifted towrds the center-left leader of the "Movement for Renewal and Change" faction, Raúl Alfonsín
Raúl Alfonsín
Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín was an Argentine lawyer, politician and statesman, who served as the President of Argentina from December 10, 1983, to July 8, 1989. Alfonsín was the first democratically-elected president of Argentina following the military government known as the National Reorganization...
. Alfonsín had been among the few political figures of any party to punlicly oppose the ill-conceived invasion, and succeeded Contín as president of the National Committee of the UCR.
Elections
Argentine general election, 1983
The Argentine general election of 1983 was held on 30 October and marked the return of Democracy after the 1976's dictatorship self-known as National Reorganization Process...
ultimately took place on October 30, 1983, and Alfonsín was elected President of Argentina. Contín accepted a post as Vice President of the Central Bank, though his health declined in subsequent years. His son, Carlos Alberto Contín, served as President of the Entre Ríos House of Reprsentatives from 1983 to 1985.
The senior Contín died on August 8, 1991, in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, during surgery; his remains rest in his hometown.