José Manuel de la Sota
Encyclopedia
José Manuel de la Sota is an Argentine
Justicialist Party
politician. He was the governor of Córdoba Province
from 1999 until 2007.
, de la Sota studied law at the National University of Córdoba
and married Silvia Zanichelli, the daughter of former Governor Arturo Zanichelli, in 1972. He was designated Legslative Secretary to Córdoba Councilman Miguel Flores, a left-wing Peronist, in 1973, and Chief of Staff to Mayor José Domingo Coronel, a right-wing Peronist, in 1975, but the March 1976 coup cut his political career short.
The return of democracy
in 1983 led De la Sota to run in the Justicialist Party
(Peronist) primaries for governor. Coming in second, he ran for Mayor of Córdoba, but was amply defeated by UCR
candidate Ramón Mestre
. He was, despite a continued poor showing by the Peronists in the province, one of four candidates elected on the party list to the Argentine Chamber of Deputies
for Córdoba Province
in 1985. He served in the 1986 Provincial Constitutional Convention as the body's Vice President, and secured the nomination as candidate for governor in 1987; he was defeated by the incumbent, Eduardo Angeloz
of the UCR, by 5%, however.
The tragic death in 1989 of one of his daughters led to his divorce, and in December 1989, he married Olga Ruitort, a San Juan Province
Peronist lawmaker. He had been reelected to Congress, but resigned in 1990 to accept a post as Ambassador to Brazil
. De la Sota again ran for governor of Córdoba in 1991. Defeated by Governor Angeloz by over 15%, this latter setback was significant because it cost De la Sota much of his support within the Justicialist Party (which was flush with victory in the 1991 mid-terms
), leading to President Carlos Menem
's endorsement of a separate party list in Córdoba for the 1993 mid-term elections, and to De la Sota's failure to regain a seat in Congress.
The 1994 amendment of the Argentine Constitution raised the number of Senators
from two to three (giving the largest minority party in each province the third seat), and this allowed De la Sota to return to high-profile elected office as a Senator in 1995. His tenure in the Senate was highlighted by an largely unsuccessful effort to reform the nation's budget process, proposing a fiscally conservative program that would replace the value added tax
for a national sales tax of 15%, and would limit spending. He was elected Governor of Córdoba
in December 1998, defeating Governor Mestre (in the first Córdoba governor's race won by Peronists since the 1950s). He launched a putative campaign for president in 2002, though he withdrew in favor of his candidacy for a second four-year term as governor, which he obtained by nearly 15%.
De la Sota and Olga Ruitort had two daughters, but divorced in 2004. As governor, he emphasized public works, and during his tenure, 340 schools and over 20,000 public housing units were completed (in a province of 3 million inhabitants). He reaped controversy, however, following his creation of a Corruption Prosecution Office in 2000. The director appointed to the office, Luis Juez, uncovered evidence of corruption by, among others, Mayor Kammerath, Public Works Minister Carlos Caserio, and the governor's Chief of Staff (and wife), Olga Ruitort. Lacking support from the governor, Juez resigned on October 10, 2002. The governor's expropriation of the former Ferreyra Palace in 2005 for its use as the Evita Fine Arts Museum
also proved contentious; the Ferreya family was reportedly compensated with a fraction of the landmark's market value, and most of the mansion's grand interiors were lost during its subsequent conversion as a museum.
He joined President Néstor Kirchner
in supporting Vice-Governor Juan Schiaretti
, who was elected in 2007 over Juez in highly-contested results. De la Sota was returned to the office of Governor of Córdoba by voters in the August 7, 2011, elections, defeating Juez and UCR candidate Oscar Aguad
.
In 2011, he was re-elected as Governor of Cordoba, and he will be installed in December 2011.
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...
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...
politician. He was the governor of Córdoba Province
Córdoba Province (Argentina)
Córdoba is a province of Argentina, located in the center of the country. Neighboring provinces are : Santiago del Estero, Santa Fe, Buenos Aires, La Pampa, San Luis, La Rioja and Catamarca...
from 1999 until 2007.
Biography
Born in CórdobaCórdoba, Argentina
Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with...
, de la Sota studied law 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,...
and married Silvia Zanichelli, the daughter of former Governor Arturo Zanichelli, in 1972. He was designated Legslative Secretary to Córdoba Councilman Miguel Flores, a left-wing Peronist, in 1973, and Chief of Staff to Mayor José Domingo Coronel, a right-wing Peronist, in 1975, but the March 1976 coup cut his political career short.
The return of democracy
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...
in 1983 led De la Sota to run in 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...
(Peronist) primaries for governor. Coming in second, he ran for Mayor of Córdoba, but was amply defeated by UCR
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...
candidate Ramón Mestre
Ramón Mestre
Ramón Bautista Mestre , an Argentine politician, was Governor of Córdoba from July 12, 1995 to July 12, 1999. He also served as Federal Interventor of Corrientes Province , Minister of the Interior , and Mayor of the City of Córdoba Ramón Bautista Mestre (August 21, 1937 – March 6, 2003), an...
. He was, despite a continued poor showing by the Peronists in the province, one of four candidates elected on the party list to 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....
for Córdoba Province
Córdoba Province (Argentina)
Córdoba is a province of Argentina, located in the center of the country. Neighboring provinces are : Santiago del Estero, Santa Fe, Buenos Aires, La Pampa, San Luis, La Rioja and Catamarca...
in 1985. He served in the 1986 Provincial Constitutional Convention as the body's Vice President, and secured the nomination as candidate for governor in 1987; he was defeated by the incumbent, Eduardo Angeloz
Eduardo Angeloz
Eduardo César Angeloz is an Argentine politician. He was a presidential candidate and Governor of Córdoba from December 11, 1983 to December 11, 1995....
of the UCR, by 5%, however.
The tragic death in 1989 of one of his daughters led to his divorce, and in December 1989, he married Olga Ruitort, a San Juan Province
San Juan Province (Argentina)
San Juan is a province of Argentina, located in the western part of the country. Neighbouring provinces are, moving clockwise from the north, La Rioja, San Luis and Mendoza. It borders with Chile at the west....
Peronist lawmaker. He had been reelected to Congress, but resigned in 1990 to accept a post as Ambassador to Brazil
Argentina-Brazil relations
Argentina–Brazil relations are both close and historical, and encompasses all possible dimensions: economy, trade, culture, education and tourism...
. De la Sota again ran for governor of Córdoba in 1991. Defeated by Governor Angeloz by over 15%, this latter setback was significant because it cost De la Sota much of his support within the Justicialist Party (which was flush with victory in the 1991 mid-terms
Argentine legislative election, 1991
The Argentine legislative elections of 1991 were held between August and December, though most polls took place on 8 September. Voters chose their legislators and governors and, with a turnout of 79.9%, it produced the following results:-Argentine Congress:...
), leading to President Carlos Menem
Carlos Menem
Carlos Saúl Menem is an Argentine politician who was President of Argentina from 1989 to 1999. He is currently an Argentine National Senator for La Rioja Province.-Early life:...
's endorsement of a separate party list in Córdoba for the 1993 mid-term elections, and to De la Sota's failure to regain a seat in Congress.
The 1994 amendment of the Argentine Constitution raised the number of Senators
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...
from two to three (giving the largest minority party in each province the third seat), and this allowed De la Sota to return to high-profile elected office as a Senator in 1995. His tenure in the Senate was highlighted by an largely unsuccessful effort to reform the nation's budget process, proposing a fiscally conservative program that would replace the value added tax
Value added tax
A value added tax or value-added tax is a form of consumption tax. From the perspective of the buyer, it is a tax on the purchase price. From that of the seller, it is a tax only on the "value added" to a product, material or service, from an accounting point of view, by this stage of its...
for a national sales tax of 15%, and would limit spending. He was elected Governor of Córdoba
Governor of Córdoba
This is a list of the Governors of Córdoba. The Governor of the Argentine province of Córdoba is the highest executive officer of the province.-See also:*Politics of Argentina*Córdoba Province...
in December 1998, defeating Governor Mestre (in the first Córdoba governor's race won by Peronists since the 1950s). He launched a putative campaign for president in 2002, though he withdrew in favor of his candidacy for a second four-year term as governor, which he obtained by nearly 15%.
De la Sota and Olga Ruitort had two daughters, but divorced in 2004. As governor, he emphasized public works, and during his tenure, 340 schools and over 20,000 public housing units were completed (in a province of 3 million inhabitants). He reaped controversy, however, following his creation of a Corruption Prosecution Office in 2000. The director appointed to the office, Luis Juez, uncovered evidence of corruption by, among others, Mayor Kammerath, Public Works Minister Carlos Caserio, and the governor's Chief of Staff (and wife), Olga Ruitort. Lacking support from the governor, Juez resigned on October 10, 2002. The governor's expropriation of the former Ferreyra Palace in 2005 for its use as the Evita Fine Arts Museum
Evita Fine Arts Museum
The Evita Fine Arts Museum is an art museum in Córdoba, Argentina.-Overview:The museum is housed in the Ferreyra Palace, a Beaux-Arts mansion designed by French architect Ernest Sanson and built between 1912 and 1916 for Dr...
also proved contentious; the Ferreya family was reportedly compensated with a fraction of the landmark's market value, and most of the mansion's grand interiors were lost during its subsequent conversion as a museum.
He joined President Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Carlos Kirchner was an Argentine politician who served as the 54th President of Argentina from 25 May 2003 until 10 December 2007. Previously, he was Governor of Santa Cruz Province since 10 December 1991. He briefly served as Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations ...
in supporting Vice-Governor Juan Schiaretti
Juan Schiaretti
Juan Schiaretti , known as 'El Gringo', is an Argentine Justicialist Party politician and accountant. He is the governor of the Province of Córdoba....
, who was elected in 2007 over Juez in highly-contested results. De la Sota was returned to the office of Governor of Córdoba by voters in the August 7, 2011, elections, defeating Juez and UCR candidate Oscar Aguad
Oscar Raúl Aguad
Oscar Raúl Aguad is an Argentine UCR politician. He was elected to the Lower House of Congress, where he became President of the UCR caucus and Vice President of the Chamber.-Life and times:...
.
In 2011, he was re-elected as Governor of Cordoba, and he will be installed in December 2011.