Jorge Zorreguieta
Encyclopedia
Jorge Horacio Zorreguieta Stefanini (born 28 January 1928) is a former politician from Argentina
. He was Minister of Agriculture in the regime of General Jorge Rafael Videla
. Zorreguieta is the father of Princess Máxima
, wife of the heir apparent
to the throne
of the Netherlands
, Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange
.
, Argentina
, born as the first descendant of Spanish
-Basque
and Italian
immigrants. His grandfather was mayor of the city of Mendoza
. He became secretary of the Sociedad Rural, a conservative interest group of landowners and ranchers. He was also president of the association Juan de Garay, a cultural institution of the Basque community.
They had three daughters:
He married, secondly, María del Carmen Cerruti Carricart born (born 8 September 1944), daughter of Jorge Horacio Cerruti and Maria del Carmen Carricart, on 27 May 1970 at Paraguay
.
They had two daughters and two sons:
of General Jorge Rafael Videla
, Zorreguieta was Deputy Minister of Agriculture. From March 1979 until March 1981 he was Minister of Agriculture and Livestock. He had charge of this important economic sector in the country. During his term, Zorreguieta increased exports of meat, grain and sugar to record highs.
with the United Kingdom
over the Falkland Islands
. The defeat suffered by Argentina, marked the end of the Videla regime (now succeeded by Leopoldo Galtieri
). Soon, the ministers under the regime were persecuted for violations of human rights, but because Zorreguieta at the end of the regime no longer held political office, he remained unaffected. Zorreguieta is also chairman of the supervisory organization for food Coordinadora de la Industria de Productos Alimenticios (Copal).
Jorge Rafael Videla
, a military dictator
who ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1981 and who was responsible for many atrocities against civilians (An estimated 10,000–30,000 people disappeared during this and subsequent military regimes before democracy
was restored to Argentina
in 1983). However Jorge Zorreguieta had resigned one year before the end of the Videla regime and claimed that, as a civilian, he was unaware of the Dirty War
while he was a cabinet minister. Professor Baud, who on request of the Dutch Parliament did an inquiry in the involvement of Zorreguieta, concluded that would it have been unlikely for a person in such a powerful position in the government to be unaware of the Dirty War.. Despite finding Zorreguieta to be at fault, the marriage between his daughter Maxima and crown prince Willem-Alexander was approved by parliament because Maxima herself had not done anything wrong, however Jorge Zorreguieta was not allowed to attend the wedding. Parliament's approval was necessary for Willem-Alexander to stay in line to the Dutch throne. During this time, the Dutch newspapers published an article called "Ich habe es nicht gewusst" which would have reminded the public of the Germans during World War II. Now, Maxima is well liked by the Dutch public and she managed to learn Dutch very quickly.
of their granddaughters, Princesses Catharina-Amalia
, Alexia
and Ariane
. The difference was that the marriage of the Crown Prince was seen as a state matter, and a baptism is considered as a private matter. During the baptism ceremony (in The Hague
and Wassenaar
), opponents of the regime of Videla protested.
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...
. He was Minister of Agriculture in the regime of General Jorge Rafael Videla
Jorge Rafael Videla
Jorge Rafael Videla Redondo is a former senior commander in the Argentine Army who was the de facto President of Argentina from 1976 to 1981. He came to power in a coup d'état that deposed Isabel Martínez de Perón...
. Zorreguieta is the father of Princess Máxima
Princess Máxima of the Netherlands
Princess Máxima of the Netherlands is the wife of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands.-Early life and education:...
, wife of the heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
to the throne
Monarchy of the Netherlands
The Netherlands has been an independent monarchy since 16 March 1815, and has been governed by members of the House of Orange-Nassau since.-Constitutional role and position of the monarch:...
of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange
Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange
Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange is the eldest child of Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus. Since 1980 he is the heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. He is also the head of the House of Amsberg since the death of his father in 2002. He was in military service and he studied...
.
Early life
Jorge Zorreguieta was born at Buenos AiresBuenos 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...
, Argentina
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...
, born as the first descendant of Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
-Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
and Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
immigrants. His grandfather was mayor of the city of Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina
Mendoza is the capital city of Mendoza Province, in Argentina. It is located in the northern-central part of the province, in a region of foothills and high plains, on the eastern side of the Andes. As of the , Mendoza's population was 110,993...
. He became secretary of the Sociedad Rural, a conservative interest group of landowners and ranchers. He was also president of the association Juan de Garay, a cultural institution of the Basque community.
Marriages
Jorge married in 1956 to Marta López Gil (born 1935). They later divorced.They had three daughters:
- María Zorreguieta López (born 1956)
- Ángeles Zorreguieta López (born 1958)
- Dolores Zorreguieta López (born 1965)
He married, secondly, María del Carmen Cerruti Carricart born (born 8 September 1944), daughter of Jorge Horacio Cerruti and Maria del Carmen Carricart, on 27 May 1970 at Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
.
They had two daughters and two sons:
- Máxima Zorreguieta CerrutiPrincess Máxima of the NetherlandsPrincess Máxima of the Netherlands is the wife of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands.-Early life and education:...
(born 17 May 1971), married in 2002 to Willem-Alexander, Prince of OrangeWillem-Alexander, Prince of OrangeWillem-Alexander, Prince of Orange is the eldest child of Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus. Since 1980 he is the heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. He is also the head of the House of Amsberg since the death of his father in 2002. He was in military service and he studied...
, had issue. - Martín Zorreguieta Cerruti (born 1972)
- Juan Zorreguieta Cerruti (born 1982)
- Inés Zorreguieta Cerruti (born 1984)
Minister
After the 1976 Argentine coup d'état1976 Argentine coup d'état
The 1976 Argentine coup was a right-wing coup d'état that overthrew Isabel Perón on 24 March 1976, in Argentina. In her place, a military junta was installed, which was headed by General Jorge Rafael Videla, Admiral Emilio Eduardo Massera and Brigadier Orlando Ramón Agosti...
of General Jorge Rafael Videla
Jorge Rafael Videla
Jorge Rafael Videla Redondo is a former senior commander in the Argentine Army who was the de facto President of Argentina from 1976 to 1981. He came to power in a coup d'état that deposed Isabel Martínez de Perón...
, Zorreguieta was Deputy Minister of Agriculture. From March 1979 until March 1981 he was Minister of Agriculture and Livestock. He had charge of this important economic sector in the country. During his term, Zorreguieta increased exports of meat, grain and sugar to record highs.
Advisor Director
In 1981 Zorreguieta stepped down as minister. He became president of the Centro Argentino Azucarero (CAA), an advisory body for the sugar producers in Argentina. At this time, Argentina went into warFalklands 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...
with the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
over the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
. The defeat suffered by Argentina, marked the end of the Videla regime (now succeeded by Leopoldo Galtieri
Leopoldo Galtieri
Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri Castelli was an Argentine general and President of Argentina from December 22, 1981 to June 18, 1982, during the last military dictatorship . The death squad Intelligence Battalion 601 directly reported to him...
). Soon, the ministers under the regime were persecuted for violations of human rights, but because Zorreguieta at the end of the regime no longer held political office, he remained unaffected. Zorreguieta is also chairman of the supervisory organization for food Coordinadora de la Industria de Productos Alimenticios (Copal).
Scandal in the Netherlands
The news of the crown prince Willem-Alexander's relationship and eventual marriage plans to Maxima Zorreguieta caused controversy in the Netherlands. Máxima's father had been the Minister of Agriculture during the regime of former Argentine PresidentPresident of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
Jorge Rafael Videla
Jorge Rafael Videla
Jorge Rafael Videla Redondo is a former senior commander in the Argentine Army who was the de facto President of Argentina from 1976 to 1981. He came to power in a coup d'état that deposed Isabel Martínez de Perón...
, a military dictator
Dictator
A dictator is a ruler who assumes sole and absolute power but without hereditary ascension such as an absolute monarch. When other states call the head of state of a particular state a dictator, that state is called a dictatorship...
who ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1981 and who was responsible for many atrocities against civilians (An estimated 10,000–30,000 people disappeared during this and subsequent military regimes before democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
was restored to Argentina
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...
in 1983). However Jorge Zorreguieta had resigned one year before the end of the Videla regime and claimed that, as a civilian, he was unaware of the Dirty War
Dirty War
The Dirty War was a period of state-sponsored violence in Argentina from 1976 until 1983. Victims of the violence included several thousand left-wing activists, including trade unionists, students, journalists, Marxists, Peronist guerrillas and alleged sympathizers, either proved or suspected...
while he was a cabinet minister. Professor Baud, who on request of the Dutch Parliament did an inquiry in the involvement of Zorreguieta, concluded that would it have been unlikely for a person in such a powerful position in the government to be unaware of the Dirty War.. Despite finding Zorreguieta to be at fault, the marriage between his daughter Maxima and crown prince Willem-Alexander was approved by parliament because Maxima herself had not done anything wrong, however Jorge Zorreguieta was not allowed to attend the wedding. Parliament's approval was necessary for Willem-Alexander to stay in line to the Dutch throne. During this time, the Dutch newspapers published an article called "Ich habe es nicht gewusst" which would have reminded the public of the Germans during World War II. Now, Maxima is well liked by the Dutch public and she managed to learn Dutch very quickly.
Visiting Netherlands
Because of his controversial past, Zorreguieta was not allowed to attend the wedding of his daughter Máxima with Dutch Crown Prince Willem-Alexander. However, he and his wife were invited to attend the christeningBaptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
of their granddaughters, Princesses Catharina-Amalia
Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands
The official origins of her given names:*Catharina has been speculated to be after Henriette Catherine of Nassau *Amalia is after Amalia of Solms-Braunfels *Beatrix is after her paternal grandmother, the Queen of the Netherlands...
, Alexia
Princess Alexia of the Netherlands
Princess Alexia of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau is the second daughter of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, his spouse...
and Ariane
Princess Ariane of the Netherlands
Princess Ariane of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau is the daughter of heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima...
. The difference was that the marriage of the Crown Prince was seen as a state matter, and a baptism is considered as a private matter. During the baptism ceremony (in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
and Wassenaar
Wassenaar
Wassenaar is a town in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. A fairly affluent suburb of The Hague, Wassenaar lies 10 km north of that city on the N44 highway near the North Sea coast. It is part of the Haaglanden region...
), opponents of the regime of Videla protested.