Juan Carlos Rousselot
Encyclopedia
Juan Carlos Rousselot was an Argentine radio and television personality, newspaper publisher, and former mayor of the Greater Buenos Aires
suburb of Morón
.
, Chaco Province
, in 1935. He debuted on radio
when, at age 18, he stood in for an absent broadcaster on LT5 Radio Chaco. He later worked the news daily El Territorio, and in 1958, relocated to Buenos Aires
, where he joined Radio El Mundo.
Rousselot hosted a talent show
on Radio Rivadavia from 1964. He later became a television anchorman on a Channel 11
evening news
program, El Diario Alpargatas; among his milestones at the program included live coverage of the 1969 Apollo 11
Moon
landing. He would be appointed spokesman for the Argentine Navy
in 1972, and in 1973, for the Minister of Social Welfare and head of the Argentine Anticommunist Alliance, José López Rega
.
Obtaining a loan from the Ministry, he relocated to Resistencia
, capital of his native Chaco Province, and purchased an ailing news daily, Diario Norte
, persuading his brother, Ricardo, to join him from Chicago
. He also served as director of Public Television
from May to August 1975. Following the March 1976 coup, Rousselot was arrested and his newspaper was placed under provincial receivership
. Its subsequent purchase by Editorial Chaco in 1978 was alleged in a 1996 lawsuit by Rousselot to have been paid with the El Nortes own profits, and at far below its market value.
and, in the early 1980s, to El Palomar
, where he became a member of the local Justicialist Party
committee. His name recognition, television experience, and marquée smile made Rousselot a natural candidate for mayoral elections in Morón
(which at the time had jurisdiction over El Palomar), and in 1987, he was elected to the post.
Rousselot became known as one of the "twelve apostles" (Peronist figures in politics and labor
who supported La Rioja Province Governor Carlos Menem
over Buenos Aires Governor Antonio Cafiero
for the Justicialist Party presidential nomination
in 1988), and unsuccessfully sought the vice presidential nod when Menem was indeed nominated. He emphasized public works
as mayor, initiating the construction of new streets and an extension of the sewage system, among other projects. The numerous contracts he signed for these projects became the subject of a corruption
investigation by the City Council, however, and the 24-person body (in which Rousselot had but four allies), voted to impeach the mayor on April 19, 1989.
Rousselot was appointed Cultural Attaché
at the Embassy in Paraguay. He faulted Cafiero for what he considered political persecution, and was subsequently exonerated on 28 charges related to these contracts. He ran again for Mayor of Morón in 1991, and was returned to office with 64% of the vote. He was re-elected in 1995, though ultimately the issue of city contracts would again lead to his downfall. Citing irregularities in parking meter
and hospital
contracts, Mayor Rousselot was again impeached on March 16, 1999, and on March 19, he was arrested at his home in Haedo
. He maintained that this resulted from his opposition to Governor Eduardo Duhalde
(President Menem's leading rival within Peronism at the time).
and of allocating us$225,000 for the transfer of a hospital without City Council approval, receiving a suspended sentence
. Pursuant to the latter sentence, he was arrested in 2001 at the Ministro Pistarini International Airport
on suspicion of attempting to flee the country (a violation of the terms of the sentence).
He was barred from holding public office, though never convicted of embezzlement
. He later returned to radio broadcasting as a host in Radio Colonia (Colonia de Sacramento, Uruguay
). Rousselot developed cancer, and died in Buenos Aires in 2010.
Greater Buenos Aires
Greater Buenos Aires is the generic denomination to refer to the megalopolis comprising the autonomous city of Buenos Aires and the conurbation around it, over the province of Buenos Aires—namely the adjacent 24 partidos or municipalities—which nonetheless do not constitute a single administrative...
suburb of Morón
Moron
Moron may refer to* Moron , disused term for a person with a mental age between 8 and 12, and a common insult for a person considered stupid * "Moron" * "Moron"...
.
Early life and career
Rousselot was born in Árbol Solo, a rural outpost in Tapenagá DepartmentTapenagá Department
Tapenagá is a southern department of Chaco Province in Argentina.The provincial subdivision has a population of about 4,000 inhabitants in an area of 6,025km², and its capital city is Charadai, which is located around 1,070 km from Capital Federal....
, Chaco Province
Chaco Province
Chaco is an Argentine province located in the north of the country, near the border with Paraguay. Its capital is Resistencia on the Paraná River opposite the city of Corrientes...
, in 1935. He debuted on radio
Radio in Argentina
Radio in Argentina is an important facet of the nation's media and culture. Radio, which was first broadcast in Argentina in 1920, has been widely enjoyed in Argentina since the 1930s. Radio broadcast stations totaled around 150 active AM stations, 1,150 FM stations, and 6 registered shortwave...
when, at age 18, he stood in for an absent broadcaster on LT5 Radio Chaco. He later worked the news daily El Territorio, and in 1958, relocated to 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...
, where he joined Radio El Mundo.
Rousselot hosted a talent show
Talent show
A talent show is an event where participants perform their talent or talents of acting, singing, dancing, acrobatics, drumming, martial arts, playing an instrument, and other activities to showcase a unique form of talent, sometimes for a reward, trophy or prize...
on Radio Rivadavia from 1964. He later became a television anchorman on a Channel 11
Telefe
Televisión Federal S.A., best known as Telefe and later as TLF, is an Argentine television network. Formerly known as Canal Once , a state-run network, it was privatised and established as Telefe in 1989, when and News Corporation took over the channel...
evening news
Evening News
Evening News may refer to:In television news:*CBS Evening News, an American news broadcast*ITV Evening News, a UK news broadcast*JNN Evening News, a Japanese news broadcastIn newspapers:...
program, El Diario Alpargatas; among his milestones at the program included live coverage of the 1969 Apollo 11
Apollo 11
In early 1969, Bill Anders accepted a job with the National Space Council effective in August 1969 and announced his retirement as an astronaut. At that point Ken Mattingly was moved from the support crew into parallel training with Anders as backup Command Module Pilot in case Apollo 11 was...
Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
landing. He would be appointed spokesman for the Argentine Navy
Argentine Navy
The Navy of the Argentine Republic or Armada of the Argentine Republic is the navy of Argentina. It is one of the three branches of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic, together with the Army and the Air Force....
in 1972, and in 1973, for the Minister of Social Welfare and head of the Argentine Anticommunist Alliance, José López Rega
José López Rega
José López Rega was Argentina's Minister of Social Welfare during the Peronist government started in 1973 by Juan Perón and continued after Perón's death in 1974 by his third wife and vice-president, Isabel Martínez de Perón , until the coup d'etat of 1976 that initiated the so-called National...
.
Obtaining a loan from the Ministry, he relocated to Resistencia
Resistencia
Resistencia may refer to:* Resistencia, Chaco, a city in Argentina* Resistencia International Airport , an airport in Chaco Province, Argentina* Resistencia Civil, Civil resistance* La Resistencia, a 1972 Argentine film...
, capital of his native Chaco Province, and purchased an ailing news daily, Diario Norte
Diario Norte
Diario Norte is a local daily newspaper published in Resistencia, Argentina.Norte was established in 1968. The publication was purchased in 1973 by anchorman Juan Carlos Rousselot, who persuaded his brother, Ricardo, to join him from Chicago. Following the March 1976 coup, Rousselot was arrested...
, persuading his brother, Ricardo, to join him from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. He also served as director of Public Television
Canal 7 Argentina
Canal Siete, TV Pública or TV Pública Digital is an Argentine television network founded on October 17, 1951. Between 1979 and 1999, the network was known as Argentina Televisora Color . During the 1978 World Cup, it was known as A78TV.Owned, financed and operated by the Argentine State, Canal 7 is...
from May to August 1975. Following the March 1976 coup, Rousselot was arrested and his newspaper was placed under provincial receivership
Receivership
In law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
. Its subsequent purchase by Editorial Chaco in 1978 was alleged in a 1996 lawsuit by Rousselot to have been paid with the El Nortes own profits, and at far below its market value.
Mayor of Morón
He later relocated to Mar del PlataMar 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, in the early 1980s, to El Palomar
El Palomar, Buenos Aires
- External links :** Official website *...
, where he became a member of the local 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...
committee. His name recognition, television experience, and marquée smile made Rousselot a natural candidate for mayoral elections in Morón
Moron
Moron may refer to* Moron , disused term for a person with a mental age between 8 and 12, and a common insult for a person considered stupid * "Moron" * "Moron"...
(which at the time had jurisdiction over El Palomar), and in 1987, he was elected to the post.
Rousselot became known as one of the "twelve apostles" (Peronist figures in politics and labor
Trade unions in Argentina
Trade unions in Argentina have traditionally played a strong role in the politics of the nation. The largest trade union association, the Confederación General del Trabajo has been a force since the 1930s, and approximately 40% of workers in the formal economy are unionized.- The FORA :The...
who supported La Rioja Province Governor 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:...
over Buenos Aires Governor 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...
for the Justicialist Party presidential nomination
Argentine general election, 1989
The Argentine general election of 1989 was held on 14 May. Voters chose both the President and their legislators and with a turnout of 85.3%, it produced the following results:-President:aAbstentions.-Argentine Congress:...
in 1988), and unsuccessfully sought the vice presidential nod when Menem was indeed nominated. He emphasized public works
Public works
Public works are a broad category of projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community...
as mayor, initiating the construction of new streets and an extension of the sewage system, among other projects. The numerous contracts he signed for these projects became the subject of a corruption
Corruption
Corruption usually refers to spiritual or moral impurity.Corruption may also refer to:* Corruption , an American crime film* Corruption , a British horror film...
investigation by the City Council, however, and the 24-person body (in which Rousselot had but four allies), voted to impeach the mayor on April 19, 1989.
Rousselot was appointed Cultural Attaché
Cultural attaché
A cultural attaché is a diplomat with special responsibility for promoting the culture of his or her homeland. The position has been used as an official cover for intelligence agents. Historically, the post has often been filled by writers and artists, giving them a steady income, allowing them to...
at the Embassy in Paraguay. He faulted Cafiero for what he considered political persecution, and was subsequently exonerated on 28 charges related to these contracts. He ran again for Mayor of Morón in 1991, and was returned to office with 64% of the vote. He was re-elected in 1995, though ultimately the issue of city contracts would again lead to his downfall. Citing irregularities in parking meter
Parking meter
A parking meter is a device used to collect money in exchange for the right to park a vehicle in a particular place for a limited amount of time. Parking meters can be used by municipalities as a tool for enforcing their integrated on-street parking policy, usually related to their traffic and...
and hospital
Health care in Argentina
Argentina’s health care system is composed of three sectors: the public sector, financed through taxes; the private sector, financed through voluntary insurance schemes; and the social security sector, financed through obligatory insurance schemes...
contracts, Mayor Rousselot was again impeached on March 16, 1999, and on March 19, he was arrested at his home in Haedo
Haedo
Haedo may refer to:*Haedo, Buenos Aires, city located in Morón Partido, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina*Eduardo Victor Haedo, President of Uruguay*Jorge Haedo Arocha, Cuban Medical Researcher and Physician...
. He maintained that this resulted from his opposition to Governor Eduardo Duhalde
Eduardo Duhalde
-External links:...
(President Menem's leading rival within Peronism at the time).
Later life
Rousselot was convicted in 2000 of extortionExtortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
and of allocating us$225,000 for the transfer of a hospital without City Council approval, receiving a suspended sentence
Suspended sentence
A suspended sentence is a legal term for a judge's delaying of a defendant's serving of a sentence after they have been found guilty, in order to allow the defendant to perform a period of probation...
. Pursuant to the latter sentence, he was arrested in 2001 at the Ministro Pistarini International Airport
Ministro Pistarini International Airport
Ministro Pistarini International Airport , more commonly known as Ezeiza International Airport owing to its location within the Ezeiza Partido in the Greater Buenos Aires, is an international airport located south-southwest of Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina...
on suspicion of attempting to flee the country (a violation of the terms of the sentence).
He was barred from holding public office, though never convicted of embezzlement
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
. He later returned to radio broadcasting as a host in Radio Colonia (Colonia de Sacramento, 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...
). Rousselot developed cancer, and died in Buenos Aires in 2010.