José Luis Zavalía
Encyclopedia
José Luis Zavalía is a lawyer and an Argentine politician of the Radical Civic Union
. He served as a national Senator
between 2001 and 2007 and previously held political positions in his province of Santiago del Estero
.
Zavalía was educated at the Escuela Manuel Belgrano in Santiago del Estero and studied at the National University of Córdoba
where he graduated as a lawyer. He married Liliana Lorenzo, with whom he has two sons.
Zavalía was twice Mayor of Santiago del Estero (1987-1991; 1999-2001). He served on the constitutional reform body in 1994 and was a member of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies
from 1994 until 1999.
Zavalía was elected to the Senate in 2001 and took his seat in January 2002. Later in 2002, he stood as the Radical candidate to be governor of Santiago del Estero Province. He came second with 12% of the votes, losing heavily to the Justicialist Party
's Carlos Díaz
. Zavalía left the Senate in 2007.
During the turbulent 1990s, Zavalía was a prominent figure in the demonstrations against corruption in his province, leading marches against systematic electoral fraud on horseback. He wrote an account of these times in his book Rebelión a caballo ('Rebellion on horseback'). He was also a target of demonstrators himself. At that time he defended his home with gunshots. In 2002, public sector workers burned tyres and refuse in front of his house to demand back pay.
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...
. He served as a national Senator
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...
between 2001 and 2007 and previously held political positions in his province of Santiago del Estero
Santiago del Estero Province
Santiago del Estero is a province of Argentina, located in the north of the country. Neighbouring provinces are from the north clockwise Salta, Chaco, Santa Fe, Córdoba, Catamarca and Tucumán.-History:...
.
Zavalía was educated at the Escuela Manuel Belgrano in Santiago del Estero and studied at the National University of Córdoba
National University of Córdoba
The National University of Córdoba, , is the oldest university in Argentina, and one of the oldest in the Americas. It is located in Córdoba, the capital of Córdoba Province. Since the early 20th century it has been the second largest university in the country in terms of the number of students,...
where he graduated as a lawyer. He married Liliana Lorenzo, with whom he has two sons.
Zavalía was twice Mayor of Santiago del Estero (1987-1991; 1999-2001). He served on the constitutional reform body in 1994 and was a member of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies
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....
from 1994 until 1999.
Zavalía was elected to the Senate in 2001 and took his seat in January 2002. Later in 2002, he stood as the Radical candidate to be governor of Santiago del Estero Province. He came second with 12% of the votes, losing heavily to the Justicialist Party
Justicialist Party
The Justicialist Party , or PJ, is a Peronist political party in Argentina, and the largest component of the Peronist movement.The party was led by Néstor Kirchner, President of Argentina from 2003 to 2007, until his death on October 27, 2010. The current Argentine president, Cristina Fernández de...
's Carlos Díaz
Carlos Diaz
Carlos Diaz may refer to:*Carlos Diaz , pitcher in Major League Baseball*Carlos Díaz , member of the Senate of Puerto Rico*Carlos Díaz , Chilean-born Canadian film and television actor...
. Zavalía left the Senate in 2007.
During the turbulent 1990s, Zavalía was a prominent figure in the demonstrations against corruption in his province, leading marches against systematic electoral fraud on horseback. He wrote an account of these times in his book Rebelión a caballo ('Rebellion on horseback'). He was also a target of demonstrators himself. At that time he defended his home with gunshots. In 2002, public sector workers burned tyres and refuse in front of his house to demand back pay.