Julio Alak
Encyclopedia
Julio César Alak is an Argentine
politician, the former mayor of provincial capital La Plata
, and currently the President's Attorney General.
, a pampas town in Buenos Aires Province
. In his youth, he worked as a journalist
while studying law
in the University of La Plata; in his professional career, he alternated between public service and private practice, and was engaged also in university teaching and politics
(as a member of the Justicialist Party
) since 1984; Alak is married and has three children.
In 1988, Alak became the President of the La Plata branch of the party, and was designated as mayoral candidate in 1991. He won the election, and held the post until the 2007 election.
for La Plata, over the objections of the two major football
clubs, which chose to remain in their home fields.
Concurrently, Alak sponsored a minor club, La Plata FC
, which some claimed was part of an Alak patronage scheme. Significant sums were allegedly spent from the city budget for activities related to that club, which has virtually no following. For some time, it was thought that it would be the only side to play in the new stadium, which was used mainly for concerts.
When a security regulation forbidding wooden stands came into effect in 2005, Estudiantes de La Plata
relocated their home games to the Bosque (the field of rival side Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata), and later to the Quilmes
stadium. The municipality has refused to allow Estudiantes an upgrade of their field, and ignored a court order that allowed its operation until a better solution was found. This behavior triggered animosity in the Estudiantes fan base.
In 2006, Gimnasia's stadium was banned as well, and their management transferred their games to the new stadium, over fans' objections. In April 2006, Alak intervened against a judicial order that would have allowed the re-opening of both fields. In August 2006, an agreement has been reached to allow remodeling Estudiantes' field, using newer technologies, to allow for a 20,000 sitting room capacity.
Critics argue that while millions went into the construction of the stadium, which the city did not need, thousands of poor people live in its shadows without receiving proper municipal services.
When Estudiantes obtained the 2006 Apertura title, Alak invited the team to an official ceremony but the players declined to attend, claiming that the pressure from the crowd would not allow them to reach his office. Actually, the players were at the La Plata Cathedral
, 200 m (650 ft) from City Hall, and so the refusal to attend was perceived as a rebuke of Alak.
Prior to the 2007 provincial election, Alak signed Estudiantes legend Juan Ramón Verón
to a post as children sports services coordinator. Estudiantes fans puzzled over the designation, which is perceived as cementing Alak's alignment with candidate Daniel Scioli
and an attempt to heal the rift between Estudiantes and Alak's administration.
La Plata FC was dissolved only three months after Alak left office.
indicated that Alak finished behind opposition candidate Pablo Bruera
who took 25% to Alak's 20%. Sensing defeat, Alak's campaign operators attempted to suggest a link between Bruera and the killing of three policemen in La Plata, which took place nine days before the election; all investigations were inconclusive as of voting day, however (three suspects were detained and subsequently released).
Alak was named to the Board of Directors of Aerolíneas Argentinas
, on February 14, 2008, as the Argentine Government's representative on the air carrier's board.
Following the ruling Front for Victory
's defeat in the June 28, 2009, mid-term elections
, Alak was tapped to replace Attorney General Aníbal Fernández
, who had been appointed the President's Cabinet Chief, effective July 7.
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...
politician, the former mayor of provincial capital La Plata
La Plata
La Plata is the capital city of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and of La Plata partido. According to the , the city proper has a population of 574,369 and its metropolitan area has 694,253 inhabitants....
, and currently the President's Attorney General.
Political career
Alak was born in Benito JuárezBenito Juarez Partido
Benito Juárez is a partido in the south-central part of Buenos Aires Province in Argentina.The provincial subdivision has a population of 20,402 inhabitants in an area of 5,285 km² , and its capital city is Benito Juárez...
, a pampas town in Buenos Aires Province
Buenos Aires Province
The Province of Buenos Aires is the largest and most populous province of Argentina. It takes the name from the city of Buenos Aires, which used to be the provincial capital until it was federalized in 1880...
. In his youth, he worked as a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
while studying law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
in the University of La Plata; in his professional career, he alternated between public service and private practice, and was engaged also in university teaching and politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
(as a member of 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...
) since 1984; Alak is married and has three children.
In 1988, Alak became the President of the La Plata branch of the party, and was designated as mayoral candidate in 1991. He won the election, and held the post until the 2007 election.
Tenure as mayor and stadium controversy
In the 1990s, Alak pushed through the construction of a new stadiumStadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
for La Plata, over the objections of the two major football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
clubs, which chose to remain in their home fields.
Concurrently, Alak sponsored a minor club, La Plata FC
La Plata FC
La Plata FC are a football club from La Plata in Buenos Aires Province in Argentina. They currently play in Torneo Argentino B, which is the regionalised fourth tier of the Argentine Football Association league system....
, which some claimed was part of an Alak patronage scheme. Significant sums were allegedly spent from the city budget for activities related to that club, which has virtually no following. For some time, it was thought that it would be the only side to play in the new stadium, which was used mainly for concerts.
When a security regulation forbidding wooden stands came into effect in 2005, Estudiantes de La Plata
Estudiantes de La Plata
Club Estudiantes de La Plata , simply referred to as Estudiantes, is an Argentine professional sports club based in La Plata. The club's football team currently competes in the Primera División, where it has spent most of its history....
relocated their home games to the Bosque (the field of rival side Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata), and later to the Quilmes
Quilmes Atlético Club
Quilmes Atlético Club is a sports clubs of Argentina, based on the Partido de Quilmes, Buenos Aires Province. Quilmes is one of the oldest clubs of Argentina, having been founded in 1887. Its football squad currently plays in the Primera B Nacional Division....
stadium. The municipality has refused to allow Estudiantes an upgrade of their field, and ignored a court order that allowed its operation until a better solution was found. This behavior triggered animosity in the Estudiantes fan base.
In 2006, Gimnasia's stadium was banned as well, and their management transferred their games to the new stadium, over fans' objections. In April 2006, Alak intervened against a judicial order that would have allowed the re-opening of both fields. In August 2006, an agreement has been reached to allow remodeling Estudiantes' field, using newer technologies, to allow for a 20,000 sitting room capacity.
Critics argue that while millions went into the construction of the stadium, which the city did not need, thousands of poor people live in its shadows without receiving proper municipal services.
When Estudiantes obtained the 2006 Apertura title, Alak invited the team to an official ceremony but the players declined to attend, claiming that the pressure from the crowd would not allow them to reach his office. Actually, the players were at the La Plata Cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
, 200 m (650 ft) from City Hall, and so the refusal to attend was perceived as a rebuke of Alak.
Prior to the 2007 provincial election, Alak signed Estudiantes legend Juan Ramón Verón
Juan Ramón Verón
Juan Ramón Verón is an Argentine football coach and former professional player.-Estudiantes:Nicknamed La Bruja , Juan Ramón Verón was a midfielder and striker renowned for his technical ability. He played for Estudiantes de La Plata, who were a dominant force in Argentine football during the late...
to a post as children sports services coordinator. Estudiantes fans puzzled over the designation, which is perceived as cementing Alak's alignment with candidate Daniel Scioli
Daniel Scioli
Daniel Osvaldo Scioli was Vice President of Argentina from 2003 to 2007 and is the current Governor of Buenos Aires Province and the president of the Justicialist Party. He is a sportsman, an entrepreneur and a politician.- Family :...
and an attempt to heal the rift between Estudiantes and Alak's administration.
La Plata FC was dissolved only three months after Alak left office.
Recent history
Initial results of the October 28, 2007, electionArgentine general election, 2007
Argentina held national presidential and legislative elections on October 28, 2007, and elections for provincial governors took place on staggered dates throughout the year. For the national elections, each of the 23 provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires are considered electoral districts...
indicated that Alak finished behind opposition candidate Pablo Bruera
Pablo Bruera
Pablo Bruera is an Argentine politician, who was elected as mayor of La Plata, the capital of Buenos Aires province, in the 28/Oct/2007 elections .On December 9, 2007, Bruera replaced incumbent Julio Alak....
who took 25% to Alak's 20%. Sensing defeat, Alak's campaign operators attempted to suggest a link between Bruera and the killing of three policemen in La Plata, which took place nine days before the election; all investigations were inconclusive as of voting day, however (three suspects were detained and subsequently released).
Alak was named to the Board of Directors of Aerolíneas Argentinas
Aerolíneas Argentinas
Aerolíneas Argentinas , formally Aerolíneas Argentinas S.A., is Argentina's largest airline and serves as the country's flag carrier. Owned in its majority by the Argentine Government, the airline is headquartered in the Torre Bouchard, located in San Nicolás, Buenos Aires...
, on February 14, 2008, as the Argentine Government's representative on the air carrier's board.
Following the ruling Front for Victory
Front for Victory
The Front for Victory is a Peronist political party and electoral alliance in Argentina, although it is formally a faction of the Justicialist Party. Both the former President Néstor Kirchner and the current President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner belong to this party, located on the left-wing...
's defeat in the June 28, 2009, mid-term elections
Argentine legislative election, 2009
Legislative elections were held in Argentina for half the seats in the Chamber of Deputies and a third of the seats in the Senate on 28 June 2009, as well as for the legislature of the City of Buenos Aires and other municipalities.-Background:...
, Alak was tapped to replace Attorney General Aníbal Fernández
Aníbal Fernández
Aníbal Domingo Fernández is an Argentine Justicialist Party politician, who served as Interior Minister for President Néstor Kirchner, Minister of Justice for President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and is currently the President's Cabinet Chief.-Biography:Born in Quilmes, Buenos Aires Province,...
, who had been appointed the President's Cabinet Chief, effective July 7.