Ramón Mestre
Encyclopedia
Ramón Bautista Mestre an Argentine
politician, was Governor of Córdoba
from July 12, 1995 to July 12, 1999. He also served as Federal Interventor of Corrientes Province
(December 16, 1999 to March 20, 2001), Minister of the Interior (from March 20, 2001 to December 21, 2001), and Mayor of the City of Córdoba
(from December 1983 to December 1991).
. He enrolled at the University of Córdoba
School of Dentistry, and was elected President of the Student Union Organization. A member of the centrist Radical Civic Union
(Unión Cívica Radical, or UCR) and protégé of Córdoba Governor Justo Páez Molina
, Mestre began his political career as Deputy Health Secretary (1964) for Governor Páez Molina, and later as the Governor’s Chief of Staff (1965). Following the 1966 military coup d'état that overthrew President Arturo Illia, as well as Paez Molina and all other governors, he worked as a dentist in the private field. He married the former Cristina Sueldo, and they had four children. was elected to the Argentine Chamber of Deputies
for Córdoba Province
in 1973, and became leader of the UCR caucus until the March 1976 coup.
In 1983, he was elected Mayor of Córdoba for the 1983–87 period, and was reelected for a new period from 1987 to 1991. His administration completed numerous public works, notably the restoration of the Suquía River shore along the city. He then created his own organization in the UCR, Participación y Renovación, to challenge Eduardo Angeloz
in the latter's 1991 bid for a third term as governor. Mestre lost the primaries; but he established a name as a natural candidate for the 1995 elections.
In 1994, he was elected to the National Convention that would approve extensive Constitutional amendments. In 1995, he was elected Governor of Córdoba. During his brief tenure, Mestre advanced a regional alliance with the governors of Entre Ríos
and Santa Fe Province
s that became the "Center Region
." Mestre hoped to accelerate growth in Córdoba; but the province struggled under the nation's economic downturn, and added to suspicions of corruption among Mestre appointees, the high fiscal deficit, as well as his own, unaccommodating style of governing, his administration quickly became unpopular. He failed to win reelection in 1999, and the Justicialist Party
won the Córdoba governorship for the first time, electing José Manuel De la Sota
as the 56th Governor.
In 1999 until 2001, Mestre served as Federal Interventor
in Corrientes Province
, and was appointed Minister of the Interior during 2001. As the Interior Ministry oversaw law enforcement
at the time, Mestre bore much of the responsibility in the repression of demonstrators at the Plaza de Mayo
during the December 2001 riots
that resulted in several deaths, and precipitated the fall of the President Fernando de la Rúa
.
Mestre announced his candidacy for Governor of Córdoba, but died in 2003, as a result of hepatitis
.
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, was Governor of Córdoba
Governor of Córdoba
This is a list of the Governors of Córdoba. The Governor of the Argentine province of Córdoba is the highest executive officer of the province.-See also:*Politics of Argentina*Córdoba Province...
from July 12, 1995 to July 12, 1999. He also served as Federal Interventor of Corrientes Province
Corrientes Province
Corrientes is a province in northeast Argentina, in the Mesopotamia region. It is surrounded by : Paraguay, the province of Misiones, Brazil, Uruguay, and the provinces of Entre Rios, Santa Fe and Chaco.-History:...
(December 16, 1999 to March 20, 2001), Minister of the Interior (from March 20, 2001 to December 21, 2001), and Mayor of the City of Córdoba
Córdoba, Argentina
Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with...
(from December 1983 to December 1991).
Biography
Mestre was born in San Juan, ArgentinaSan Juan, Argentina
San Juan is the capital city of the Argentine province of San Juan in the Cuyo region, located in the Tulúm Valley, west of the San Juan River, at above mean sea level, with a population of around 112,000 as per the ....
. He enrolled at the University of Córdoba
University of Cordoba
The term University of Córdoba or Cordoba could refer to the following:* Cordoba University * National University of Córdoba * University of Cordoba * University of Córdoba...
School of Dentistry, and was elected President of the Student Union Organization. A member of the centrist 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...
(Unión Cívica Radical, or UCR) and protégé of Córdoba Governor Justo Páez Molina
Justo Páez Molina
Justo Pastor Páez Molina was an Argentine politician. He served as Governor of Córdoba from October 12, 1963 to June 28, 1966....
, Mestre began his political career as Deputy Health Secretary (1964) for Governor Páez Molina, and later as the Governor’s Chief of Staff (1965). Following the 1966 military coup d'état that overthrew President Arturo Illia, as well as Paez Molina and all other governors, he worked as a dentist in the private field. He married the former Cristina Sueldo, and they had four children. was elected to the Argentine Chamber of Deputies
Argentine Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Argentine National Congress. This Chamber holds exclusive rights to create taxes, to draft troops, and to accuse the President, the ministers and the members of the Supreme Court before the Senate....
for Córdoba Province
Córdoba Province (Argentina)
Córdoba is a province of Argentina, located in the center of the country. Neighboring provinces are : Santiago del Estero, Santa Fe, Buenos Aires, La Pampa, San Luis, La Rioja and Catamarca...
in 1973, and became leader of the UCR caucus until the March 1976 coup.
In 1983, he was elected Mayor of Córdoba for the 1983–87 period, and was reelected for a new period from 1987 to 1991. His administration completed numerous public works, notably the restoration of the Suquía River shore along the city. He then created his own organization in the UCR, Participación y Renovación, to challenge Eduardo Angeloz
Eduardo Angeloz
Eduardo César Angeloz is an Argentine politician. He was a presidential candidate and Governor of Córdoba from December 11, 1983 to December 11, 1995....
in the latter's 1991 bid for a third term as governor. Mestre lost the primaries; but he established a name as a natural candidate for the 1995 elections.
In 1994, he was elected to the National Convention that would approve extensive Constitutional amendments. In 1995, he was elected Governor of Córdoba. During his brief tenure, Mestre advanced a regional alliance with the governors of Entre Ríos
Entre Ríos Province
Entre Ríos is a northeastern province of Argentina, located in the Mesopotamia region. It borders the provinces of Buenos Aires , Corrientes and Santa Fe , and Uruguay in the east....
and Santa Fe Province
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...
s that became the "Center Region
Center Region (Argentina)
The Center Region of Argentina is the political and economical association of the provinces of Córdoba, Santa Fe and Entre Ríos...
." Mestre hoped to accelerate growth in Córdoba; but the province struggled under the nation's economic downturn, and added to suspicions of corruption among Mestre appointees, the high fiscal deficit, as well as his own, unaccommodating style of governing, his administration quickly became unpopular. He failed to win reelection in 1999, and 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...
won the Córdoba governorship for the first time, electing José Manuel De la Sota
José Manuel de la Sota
José Manuel de la Sota is an Argentine Justicialist Party politician. He was the governor of Córdoba Province from 1999 until 2007.-Biography:...
as the 56th Governor.
In 1999 until 2001, Mestre served as Federal Interventor
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...
in Corrientes Province
Corrientes Province
Corrientes is a province in northeast Argentina, in the Mesopotamia region. It is surrounded by : Paraguay, the province of Misiones, Brazil, Uruguay, and the provinces of Entre Rios, Santa Fe and Chaco.-History:...
, and was appointed Minister of the Interior during 2001. As the Interior Ministry oversaw law enforcement
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
at the time, Mestre bore much of the responsibility in the repression of demonstrators at the Plaza de Mayo
Plaza de Mayo
The Plaza de Mayo is the main square in downtown Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is flanked by Hipólito Yrigoyen, Balcarce, Rivadavia and Bolívar streets....
during 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...
that resulted in several deaths, and precipitated the fall of the President 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 ....
.
Mestre announced his candidacy for Governor of Córdoba, but died in 2003, as a result of hepatitis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a medical condition defined by the inflammation of the liver and characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. The name is from the Greek hepar , the root being hepat- , meaning liver, and suffix -itis, meaning "inflammation"...
.