José María Vernet
Encyclopedia
José María Vernet is an Argentine
Justicialist Party
politician. He served as Governor of the province
of Santa Fe
from December 11, 1983 to December 11, 1987.
. He enrolled at the National University of Córdoba
, and earned a degree in Accountancy
.
He would obtain the Justicialist Party
's nomination for Governor of Santa Fe
as a compromise candidate chosen by feuding Peronist factions ahead of elections in 1983
. Elected in October, his margin of victory was the closest of the 22 gubernatorial races that year, defeating UCR
candidate Aníbal Reinaldo by around 15,000 votes, or 1%. The computerized tallying system failed during a recount of the close election, and Peronist officials themselves later acknowledged the possibility that Reinaldo would have prevailed by 12,000 votes.
Governor Vernet's tenure was highlighted by his efforts to decentralize
the provincial bureaucratic and judicial systems, establishing a network of municipal courts throughout the province. He did likewise with a variety of public services
, transferring numerous local utilities and public housing
communities from the provincial aegis to cooperative
s based in each town.
He established a number of new offices, however, including the Ministry of Production, Commerce and Industry and Commerce; the Plan Lote and Proyecto Sol poverty relief programs; and EMPA, an adult education
and job training
service. He commemorated the bicentennial of early provincial leader Estanislao López
in 1986 be establishing the Cuerpo de Dragones de la Independencia, an honor guard
of the Provincial Police.
Vernet's tenure became known as the "Peronist Cooperative" for the unwieldy coalition he secured between his wing of the Justicialist Party (dominated by Steelworkers Union leader Lorenzo Miguel
), and other factions in the Big tent
party, and he was elected First Vice President of the Justicialist Party in 1984. Vernet faced mounting criticism for the increase in public spending during his tenure toward the end of his term. Following the end of his term in 1987, his fellow Peronist successor, Víctor Reviglio
, advanced numerous investigations of provincial government officials in Vernet's administration. Vernet, who had left office with high approval ratings, lost much of his earlier popularity within a year. He summarized the conflictive nature of provincial politics level by remarking that, as Santa Fe governors are limited to one consecutive term, "it would be awkward to oppose a governor during the fist two years, as it would during the last two years." The 1985 comment would later be known in Santa Fe as "Vernet's Theorem."
He later relocated to Mar del Plata
, and was appointed Minister of Production of by the Governor of Buenos Aires, Antonio Cafiero
. He appointed to a minor post by Interior Minister Carlos Corach in the 1990s, and served as Minister of Foreign Relations
for ad interim
president Adolfo Rodríguez Saá
during his very brief rule in the last week of 2001, immediately after the December 2001 riots
and the resignation of Fernando de la Rúa
.
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 served as Governor of the province
Provinces of Argentina
Argentina is subdivided into twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city...
of Santa Fe
Santa Fe Province
The Invincible Province of Santa Fe, in Spanish Provincia Invencible de Santa Fe , is a province of Argentina, located in the center-east of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the north clockwise Chaco , Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Santiago del Estero...
from December 11, 1983 to December 11, 1987.
Life and times
Vernet was born in RosarioRosario
Rosario is the largest city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It is located northwest of Buenos Aires, on the western shore of the Paraná River and has 1,159,004 residents as of the ....
. He enrolled 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 earned a degree in Accountancy
Accountancy
Accountancy is the process of communicating financial information about a business entity to users such as shareholders and managers. The communication is generally in the form of financial statements that show in money terms the economic resources under the control of management; the art lies in...
.
He would obtain 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 nomination for Governor of Santa Fe
Governor of Santa Fe
The governor of the Argentine province of Santa Fe is the highest executive officeholder of the province.According to the provincial constitution , the governor is elected by the simple majority of the popular vote, along with a vice governor, for a four-year term, and cannot be reelected...
as a compromise candidate chosen by feuding Peronist factions ahead of elections in 1983
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...
. Elected in October, his margin of victory was the closest of the 22 gubernatorial races that year, defeating 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 Aníbal Reinaldo by around 15,000 votes, or 1%. The computerized tallying system failed during a recount of the close election, and Peronist officials themselves later acknowledged the possibility that Reinaldo would have prevailed by 12,000 votes.
Governor Vernet's tenure was highlighted by his efforts to decentralize
Decentralization
__FORCETOC__Decentralization or decentralisation is the process of dispersing decision-making governance closer to the people and/or citizens. It includes the dispersal of administration or governance in sectors or areas like engineering, management science, political science, political economy,...
the provincial bureaucratic and judicial systems, establishing a network of municipal courts throughout the province. He did likewise with a variety of public services
Public services
Public services is a term usually used to mean services provided by government to its citizens, either directly or by financing private provision of services. The term is associated with a social consensus that certain services should be available to all, regardless of income...
, transferring numerous local utilities and public housing
Public housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
communities from the provincial aegis to cooperative
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
s based in each town.
He established a number of new offices, however, including the Ministry of Production, Commerce and Industry and Commerce; the Plan Lote and Proyecto Sol poverty relief programs; and EMPA, an adult education
Adult education
Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place in the workplace, through 'extension' school or 'school of continuing education' . Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning centers...
and job training
Training
The term training refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relate to specific useful competencies. It forms the core of apprenticeships and provides the backbone of content at institutes of...
service. He commemorated the bicentennial of early provincial leader Estanislao López
Estanislao López
Estanislao López was a governor and caudillo of the , between 1818 and 1838, a hero of provincial federalism and an ally of Juan Manuel de Rosas during the Argentine Civil War.-Biography:...
in 1986 be establishing the Cuerpo de Dragones de la Independencia, an honor guard
Honor guard
An honor guard, or ceremonial guard, is a ceremonial unit, usually military in nature and composed of volunteers who are carefully screened for their physical ability and dexterity...
of the Provincial Police.
Vernet's tenure became known as the "Peronist Cooperative" for the unwieldy coalition he secured between his wing of the Justicialist Party (dominated by Steelworkers Union leader Lorenzo Miguel
Lorenzo Miguel
Lorenzo Miguel was a prominent Argentine labor leader closely associated with the steelworkers' union.-Early life and his rise in the UOM:...
), and other factions in the Big tent
Big tent
In politics, a big tent party or catch-all party is a political party seeking to attract people with diverse viewpoints. The party does not require adherence to some ideology as a criterion for membership...
party, and he was elected First Vice President of the Justicialist Party in 1984. Vernet faced mounting criticism for the increase in public spending during his tenure toward the end of his term. Following the end of his term in 1987, his fellow Peronist successor, Víctor Reviglio
Víctor Reviglio
Víctor Félix Reviglio is an Argentine Justicialist Party politician and diplomat. He was the governor of the province of Santa Fe from 11 December 1987 to 11 December 1991.Reviglio qualified as a doctor at the National University of Córdoba...
, advanced numerous investigations of provincial government officials in Vernet's administration. Vernet, who had left office with high approval ratings, lost much of his earlier popularity within a year. He summarized the conflictive nature of provincial politics level by remarking that, as Santa Fe governors are limited to one consecutive term, "it would be awkward to oppose a governor during the fist two years, as it would during the last two years." The 1985 comment would later be known in Santa Fe as "Vernet's Theorem."
He later relocated to Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is an Argentine city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, south of Buenos Aires. Mar del Plata is the second largest city of Buenos Aires Province. The name "Mar del Plata" had apparently the sense of "sea of the Río de la Plata region" or "adjoining sea to the Río de la Plata"...
, and was appointed Minister of Production of by the Governor of Buenos Aires, Antonio Cafiero
Antonio Cafiero
Antonio Francisco Cafiero is an Argentine Justicialist Party politician.-Biography:Cafiero was born in Buenos Aires. He joined Catholic Action in 1938, and enrolled at the University of Buenos Aires, becoming President of the Students' Association...
. He appointed to a minor post by Interior Minister Carlos Corach in the 1990s, and served as Minister of Foreign Relations
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship is the Argentine government ministry which oversees the foreign relations of Argentina.The current Chancellor is Héctor Timerman.-External links:...
for ad interim
Ad interim
The Latin phrase ad interim literally means "in the time between" denotes the meaning of "in the meantime", "for an intervening time" or "temporarily" in the English language...
president Adolfo Rodríguez Saá
Adolfo Rodríguez Saá
Adolfo Rodríguez Saá Páez Montero is an Argentine Peronist politician. He was the governor of the province of San Luis during several terms, and briefly served as President of Argentina.-Biography:...
during his very brief rule in the last week of 2001, immediately after the December 2001 riots
December 2001 riots (Argentina)
The December 2001 uprising was a period of civil unrest and rioting in Argentina, which took place during December 2001, with the most violent incidents taking place on December 19 and December 20 in the capital, Buenos Aires, Rosario and other large cities around the country.- Background :The...
and the resignation of Fernando de la Rúa
Fernando de la Rúa
Fernando de la Rúa is an Argentine politician. He was president of the country from December 10, 1999 to December 21, 2001 for the Alliance for Work, Justice and Education ....
.