Rafael Michelini
Encyclopedia
Rafael Michelini Delle Piane (born 20 October 1958 in Montevideo
) is a Uruguay
an politician
. He is currently Senator of the Republic of Uruguay
as a member of the Frente Amplio
party, and was the founder of New Space party. He was the seventh of ten children, and is the son of Zelmar Michelini
, a former senator who was assassinated in Buenos Aires
during Operation Condor
. As a result he has been active in human rights issues, primarily those stemming from the dictatorship.
In the elections of 1984, the first since the end of the military dictatorship which had ruled Uruguay from 1973 to 1984, Michelini was elected to the city council in Montevideo running for the Party for the Government of the People
. Five years later, he joined the breakaway group led by Hugo Batalla
, forming a new party, the New Area, supporting the presidential candidacy of Batlle for the elections of 1989, in which Michelini was elected deputy.
In 1994, he disagreed with the alliance between Hugo Batalla and the Colorado Party
, and in response founded the New Space party with other dissidents. The party is part of the Frente Amplio coalition, and has twice nominated Michelini for President of Uruguay. In the first election in 1994 he obtained 5.16% of total votes cast, while in 1999 he obtained 4.56% of the vote. On both occasions he was elected Senator. In 2003 he reached an agreement with the Progressive Encounter-Broad Front, called the New Majority, in which he returned to his old political party. Some sections of the New Space directed by Pablo Mieres disagreed with this decision, left the party, and founded the Independent Party. The Frente Amplio won the election in 2004, and as part of the coalition Michelini won a seat in the Senate
. During his time as Senator, Michelini drafted a law on the integration of men and women in the electoral lists of political parties, and drafted a declaration naming July 17 of each year a day of National Suicide Prevention.
He is married to Arq. Matilde Jorge and has four children: Clara, Juan Pedro, Beatriz, and Martin. His brother Felipe Michelini is also a member of the Senate, and has served for three terms.
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
) is a Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He is currently Senator of the Republic of Uruguay
Senate of Uruguay
The Chamber of Senators is the upper house of the General Assembly of Uruguay. The Chamber has 30 members elected for a five year term by proportional representation; the vice-president of Uruguay presides over the chamber's sessions...
as a member of the Frente Amplio
Broad Front (Uruguay)
The Broad Front is a Uruguayan left-wing coalition of political parties. It is led by Jorge Brovetto. Frente Amplio has close ties with PIT-CNT trade union and the cooperative housing movement.-History:...
party, and was the founder of New Space party. He was the seventh of ten children, and is the son of Zelmar Michelini
Zelmar Michelini
Zelmar Michelini was a Uruguayan reporter and politician, assassinated in Buenos Aires in 1976 as part of Operation Condor....
, a former senator who was assassinated 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 Operation Condor
Operation Condor
Operation Condor , was a campaign of political repression involving assassination and intelligence operations officially implemented in 1975 by the right-wing dictatorships of the Southern Cone of South America...
. As a result he has been active in human rights issues, primarily those stemming from the dictatorship.
In the elections of 1984, the first since the end of the military dictatorship which had ruled Uruguay from 1973 to 1984, Michelini was elected to the city council in Montevideo running for the Party for the Government of the People
Party for the Government of the People
The Party for the Government of the People —in Spanish: Partido por el Gobierno del Pueblo—was a social democratic political party in Uruguay. It was originally the Movimiento por el Gobierno del Pueblo...
. Five years later, he joined the breakaway group led by Hugo Batalla
Hugo Batalla
Hugo Batalla Parentini , Uruguayan politician, was Vice President of Uruguay from 1995 to 1998 during the presidency of Julio María Sanguinetti.-Background:His political activity started in the Colorado Party with Zelmar Michelini...
, forming a new party, the New Area, supporting the presidential candidacy of Batlle for the elections of 1989, in which Michelini was elected deputy.
In 1994, he disagreed with the alliance between Hugo Batalla and the Colorado Party
Colorado Party
Colorado Party can refer to two South American political parties:* Colorado Party * Colorado Party...
, and in response founded the New Space party with other dissidents. The party is part of the Frente Amplio coalition, and has twice nominated Michelini for President of Uruguay. In the first election in 1994 he obtained 5.16% of total votes cast, while in 1999 he obtained 4.56% of the vote. On both occasions he was elected Senator. In 2003 he reached an agreement with the Progressive Encounter-Broad Front, called the New Majority, in which he returned to his old political party. Some sections of the New Space directed by Pablo Mieres disagreed with this decision, left the party, and founded the Independent Party. The Frente Amplio won the election in 2004, and as part of the coalition Michelini won a seat in the Senate
Senate of Uruguay
The Chamber of Senators is the upper house of the General Assembly of Uruguay. The Chamber has 30 members elected for a five year term by proportional representation; the vice-president of Uruguay presides over the chamber's sessions...
. During his time as Senator, Michelini drafted a law on the integration of men and women in the electoral lists of political parties, and drafted a declaration naming July 17 of each year a day of National Suicide Prevention.
He is married to Arq. Matilde Jorge and has four children: Clara, Juan Pedro, Beatriz, and Martin. His brother Felipe Michelini is also a member of the Senate, and has served for three terms.