Julio Cobos
Encyclopedia
Julio César Cleto Cobos (born Mendoza, Argentina
, April 30, 1955) is an Argentine
politician, currently serving as the Vice President of Argentina alongside President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
. He started his political career as member of the Radical Civic Union
(UCR), becoming Governor of Mendoza
in 2003. He was expelled from the party in 2007, when he joined Cristina Fernández, from the Front for Victory, to run as candidate for vice-president.
His popular prestige got a big boost in 2008, when the senate
was voting a project of law to ratify an increase of taxes on grain exports
. The voting ended in a tie, circumstances that set him, as President of the Senate, to cast the deciding vote. On a controversial decision, he voted against the law project promoted by the Government. This led to strong critics from the ruling Front for Victory
party, and from the media, who deemed him a traitor, and approval from sectors of the population that opposed the government. As he further distanced himself from the government, the UCR revoked his expulsion from the party. By 2010, he was considered a presidential pre-candidate for the 2011 presidential elections.
. His parents are Fermín and Asunción, and he has two older brothers. He studied high school in the Military Liceum, and later in the Universidad Tecnológica Nacional (UTN). He graduated from construction engineering in 1979 and civil engineering
in 1988. In 1980 he got married with Cristina Cerutti, having three sons. He later stayed at the UTN as teacher.
He got promoted to Dean of the local chapter of the UTN, in the 1997-2001 term, but requested licence from 1999 to 2001 to work in politics. he was later reelected for the 2001-2005 term.
then as minister of Environment and Public Works in the government of Mendoza Province 1999–2000. He was dean
of the regional faculty of the Universidad Tecnológica Nacional
1997–2003. He was elected governor in 2003, heading a coalition between Radicals with Recrear
and Federalists.
After his election, Cobos became a leading supporter of Peronist President
Néstor Kirchner
in Radical ranks, taking a more left-wing position. He was in dispute with other Radicals in Mendoza, led by former governor Roberto Iglesias
, now Radical leader, over his support for Kirchner and their desire to back another presidential candidate in the 2007 elections. Mendoza's constitution does not allow re-election; however Cobos supported Celso Jaque
to take office in 2007 on the same slate as Kirchner.
slate. He accepted her offer and was consequently expelled by the Radicals in July 2007. Having won the election, Cobos was sworn in as Vice President in December 2007.
On July 17, 2008, Cobos, as Vice President and leader of the Argentine Senate
, cast the deciding vote rejecting an increase in grain export taxes. This controversial bill had led to economic and social instability in Argentina, with mass protests both for and against the government. Cobos had been expected to back President Fernández de Kirchner. "I think today is the most difficult day of my life", Cobos said. "They tell me I must go along with the government for institutional reasons, but my heart tells me otherwise. May history judge me, my vote is not for, it's against." Cobos has said that the move defused tensions in the country between farmers and the state.
Cobos' car managed to escape an attempted hijacking.
Cobos refused to step down, while Fernandez has not asked for his resignation, as his approval rating has been double that of hers in some polls. Cobos recently criticized her decision to nationalize more than $25 billion in private pension funds as premature and would only create more doubts among investors about the stability of Argentina's investment climate. Kirchner, in response, said publicly that every morning his wife asks him, "What vice president did you stick me with, Nestor?"
Some parts of the media have considered him a potential presidential candidate for president in the 2011 elections since the raise of his public image during the voting in the Congress, though other parts of the media do not agree on that saying his image is falling abruptly. Cobos initially maintained a quiet position about the topic, and declared his intentions to be candidate by the beginning of 2010.
In July 2010, he returned to the UCR
headquarters, where he was greeted by party officials Gerardo Morales
, Ernesto Sanz
, Ricardo Alfonsín
and Oscar Aguad. They agreed to work on a plan to govern the country towards the 2011 full term elections.
, 2003-10-28 CuyoNoticias Cobismo Digital
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...
, April 30, 1955) is an Argentine
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, currently serving as the Vice President of Argentina alongside President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
Cristina Elisabet Fernández de Kirchner , commonly known as Cristina Fernández or Cristina Kirchner is the 55th and current President of Argentina and the widow of former President Néstor Kirchner. She is Argentina's first elected female president, and the second female president ever to serve...
. He started his political career as member of the Radical Civic Union
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...
(UCR), becoming Governor of Mendoza
Governor of Mendoza
The Constitution of Mendoza Province, Argentina states that the executive power of the Province will be led by a citizen chosen as a Governor by the people for a four-year term, and not allowed to be re-elected for the immediately following term....
in 2003. He was expelled from the party in 2007, when he joined Cristina Fernández, from the Front for Victory, to run as candidate for vice-president.
His popular prestige got a big boost in 2008, when the senate
Argentine Senate
The Argentine Senate is the upper house of the Argentine National Congress. It has 72 senators: three for each province and three for the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires...
was voting a project of law to ratify an increase of taxes on grain exports
2008 Argentine government conflict with the agricultural sector
The 2008 Argentine government conflict with the agricultural sector started in March 2008, which then extended into a prolonged period of turbulent politics...
. The voting ended in a tie, circumstances that set him, as President of the Senate, to cast the deciding vote. On a controversial decision, he voted against the law project promoted by the Government. This led to strong critics from 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...
party, and from the media, who deemed him a traitor, and approval from sectors of the population that opposed the government. As he further distanced himself from the government, the UCR revoked his expulsion from the party. By 2010, he was considered a presidential pre-candidate for the 2011 presidential elections.
Early life
Julio Cobos was born in 1955 in the city of Godoy Cruz, MendozaGodoy Cruz, Mendoza
Godoy Cruz is a city in the province of Mendoza, Argentina. It has 183,000 inhabitants as per the , and is part of the metropolitan area of the provincial capital ....
. His parents are Fermín and Asunción, and he has two older brothers. He studied high school in the Military Liceum, and later in the Universidad Tecnológica Nacional (UTN). He graduated from construction engineering in 1979 and civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
in 1988. In 1980 he got married with Cristina Cerutti, having three sons. He later stayed at the UTN as teacher.
He got promoted to Dean of the local chapter of the UTN, in the 1997-2001 term, but requested licence from 1999 to 2001 to work in politics. he was later reelected for the 2001-2005 term.
Governor of Mendoza
He joined the UCR in 1991 and took public office as an official in the municipality of MendozaMendoza, 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...
then as minister of Environment and Public Works in the government of Mendoza Province 1999–2000. He was dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the regional faculty of the Universidad Tecnológica Nacional
UTN - Facultad Regional Mendoza
The Mendoza Regional Faculty or FRM is one branche of the National Technological University...
1997–2003. He was elected governor in 2003, heading a coalition between Radicals with Recrear
Recreate for Growth
Recreate for Growth was a conservative liberal political party in Argentina, that existed from 2002 to 2009.The party was formed in March 2002, mostly by market-oriented members of the Radical Civic Union, headed by Ricardo López Murphy....
and Federalists.
After his election, Cobos became a leading supporter of Peronist President
President 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...
Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Carlos Kirchner was an Argentine politician who served as the 54th President of Argentina from 25 May 2003 until 10 December 2007. Previously, he was Governor of Santa Cruz Province since 10 December 1991. He briefly served as Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations ...
in Radical ranks, taking a more left-wing position. He was in dispute with other Radicals in Mendoza, led by former governor Roberto Iglesias
Roberto Iglesias
Roberto Raúl Iglesias is an Argentine Radical Civic Union politician, a former leader of the party and formerly a deputy and governor of Mendoza Province....
, now Radical leader, over his support for Kirchner and their desire to back another presidential candidate in the 2007 elections. Mendoza's constitution does not allow re-election; however Cobos supported Celso Jaque
Celso Jaque
Celso Alejandro Jaque is an Argentine Justicialist Party politician, current governor of Mendoza Province and a former senator.Born in Malargüe, Mendoza, Jaque graduated as an accountant at the National University of Cuyo...
to take office in 2007 on the same slate as Kirchner.
Vice Presidency
Cobos was asked by Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to stand as her running mate in 2007 heading the Front for VictoryFront 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...
slate. He accepted her offer and was consequently expelled by the Radicals in July 2007. Having won the election, Cobos was sworn in as Vice President in December 2007.
On July 17, 2008, Cobos, as Vice President and leader of the Argentine Senate
Argentine Senate
The Argentine Senate is the upper house of the Argentine National Congress. It has 72 senators: three for each province and three for the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires...
, cast the deciding vote rejecting an increase in grain export taxes. This controversial bill had led to economic and social instability in Argentina, with mass protests both for and against the government. Cobos had been expected to back President Fernández de Kirchner. "I think today is the most difficult day of my life", Cobos said. "They tell me I must go along with the government for institutional reasons, but my heart tells me otherwise. May history judge me, my vote is not for, it's against." Cobos has said that the move defused tensions in the country between farmers and the state.
Cobos' car managed to escape an attempted hijacking.
Cobos refused to step down, while Fernandez has not asked for his resignation, as his approval rating has been double that of hers in some polls. Cobos recently criticized her decision to nationalize more than $25 billion in private pension funds as premature and would only create more doubts among investors about the stability of Argentina's investment climate. Kirchner, in response, said publicly that every morning his wife asks him, "What vice president did you stick me with, Nestor?"
Some parts of the media have considered him a potential presidential candidate for president in the 2011 elections since the raise of his public image during the voting in the Congress, though other parts of the media do not agree on that saying his image is falling abruptly. Cobos initially maintained a quiet position about the topic, and declared his intentions to be candidate by the beginning of 2010.
In July 2010, he returned to the UCR
UCR
UCR may refer to:* University of California, Riverside* Unified Cornish Revised, a variety of the Cornish language* Uniform Crime Reports* Under color removal* University of Costa Rica* Unión Cívica Radical, an Argentine political party...
headquarters, where he was greeted by party officials Gerardo Morales
Gerardo Morales
Gerardo Ariel Morales Santos, more commonly known as Karibito, born September 20, 1975 in Montevideo) is a Uruguayan football midfielder.-External links:*...
, Ernesto Sanz
Ernesto Sanz
Ernesto Sanz , is an Argentine Radical Civic Union politician. He serves in the Argentine Senate representing Mendoza Province....
, Ricardo Alfonsín
Ricardo Alfonsín
Ricardo Alfonsín is an Argentine lawyer, academic and politician prominent in the Radical Civic Union. His father, Raúl Alfonsín, was the President of Argentina from 1983 to 1989.-Life and times:...
and Oscar Aguad. They agreed to work on a plan to govern the country towards the 2011 full term elections.
External links
Interview, ClarínClarín (newspaper)
Clarín is the largest newspaper in Argentina, published by the Grupo Clarín media group. It was founded by Roberto Noble on 28 August 1945. It is politically centrist but popularly understood to oppose the Kirchner government...
, 2003-10-28 CuyoNoticias Cobismo Digital