Sergio Massa
Encyclopedia
Sergio Tomás Massa is an Argentine Justicialist Party
politician and was the President's Cabinet Chief from July 2008 to July 2009.
Massa was born in Buenos Aires
in 1972 and raised in the western suburb of San Andrés. Attending the School of St. Augustine
through grade and secondary school, he enrolled at the University of Belgrano
, a private university in the upscale Buenos Aires borough of the same name. Leaving school before completing his law degree studies, he married Malena Galmarini, whose father, Fernando Galmarini, was at the time Secretary of Sports for President Carlos Menem
.
He became affiliated to the conservative UCeDé
in 1989 as an aide to Alejandro Keck, councilman for the San Martín
district (which includes San Andrés). Massa joined the ruling Justicialist Party
in 1995, when the UCeDé endorsed the re-election of President Menem after the latter had sidestepped much of his populist Justicialist Party's platform in favor of a more conservative one. Shortly after a crisis led to President Fernando de la Rúa
's December 2001 resignation, the Congress appointed Senator Eduardo Duhalde
, a more traditional Peronist than Menem had been. Acquainted with Massa through Restaurant Workers' Union leader Luis Barrionuevo, Duhalde appointed Massa Director of the ANSeS
(Argentina's Social Security
administration).
The pragmatic Massa ran on President Néstor Kirchner
's center-left Front for Victory
ticket during the 2005 legislative elections
. Securing a seat in the Chamber of Deputies
(lower house of Congress), he forfeited it at the behest of the President, who requested that he stay on as Director of ANSeS. Remaining at the post two more years, he oversaw the voluntary conversion of several million private pension accounts to the ANSeS' aegis when this choice was made available in December 2006.
Massa was elected Mayor of the Paraná Delta
city of Tigre
in October 2007. Those elections
also brought President Néstor Kirchner's wife, Senator Cristina Kirchner, to high office. Enjoying large majorities in Congress, her administration suffered its first major setback when her proposals for higher agricultural export taxes were defeated on July 16, 2008, with Vice President Julio Cobos
's surprise, tie-breaking vote against them. The controversy helped lead to the July 23 resignation of Alberto Fernández
, the President's Cabinet Chief, and to his replacement with Sergio Massa who, at 36, became the youngest person to hold the influential post since its creation in 1994.
Following the ruling Front for Victory
's defeat in the June 28, 2009, mid-term elections
, Massa tendered his resignation to the President, effective July 7; he was replaced by Attorney General Aníbal Fernández
.
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 and was the President's Cabinet Chief from July 2008 to July 2009.
Massa was born in 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...
in 1972 and raised in the western suburb of San Andrés. Attending the School of St. Augustine
St. Augustine
-People:* Augustine of Hippo or Augustine of Hippo , father of the Latin church* Augustine of Canterbury , first Archbishop of Canterbury* Augustine Webster, an English Catholic martyr.-Places:*St. Augustine, Florida, United States...
through grade and secondary school, he enrolled at the University of Belgrano
University of Belgrano
The University of Belgrano is a private university established in 1964 and located in the Belgrano district of the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina.It has 9 Departments:*Architecture and Urban Planning*Law and Political Science*Economics*Humanities...
, a private university in the upscale Buenos Aires borough of the same name. Leaving school before completing his law degree studies, he married Malena Galmarini, whose father, Fernando Galmarini, was at the time Secretary of Sports for President 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:...
.
He became affiliated to the conservative UCeDé
Union of the Democratic Centre (Argentina)
The Union of the Democratic Centre is a conservative political party in Argentina. It was founded in 1982 by Álvaro Alsogaray who stood for the Party in the 1983 and 1989 presidential elections....
in 1989 as an aide to Alejandro Keck, councilman for the San Martín
General San Martín Partido
General San Martín Partido is a partido in the Gran Buenos Aires urban area, immediately to the north-west of Capital Federal in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina....
district (which includes San Andrés). Massa joined the ruling 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...
in 1995, when the UCeDé endorsed the re-election of President Menem after the latter had sidestepped much of his populist Justicialist Party's platform in favor of a more conservative one. Shortly after a crisis led to 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 ....
's December 2001 resignation, the Congress appointed Senator Eduardo Duhalde
Eduardo Duhalde
-External links:...
, a more traditional Peronist than Menem had been. Acquainted with Massa through Restaurant Workers' Union leader Luis Barrionuevo, Duhalde appointed Massa Director of the ANSeS
ANSES
ANSES is a decentralized Argentine Government social insurance agency managed under the aegis of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. The agency is the principal administrator of social security and other social benefits in Argentina, including family and childhood subsidies, and...
(Argentina's Social Security
Social security
Social security is primarily a social insurance program providing social protection or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. Social security may refer to:...
administration).
The pragmatic Massa ran on President 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 ...
's center-left 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...
ticket during the 2005 legislative elections
Argentine legislative election, 2005
Argentina held national parliamentary elections on Sunday, 23 October 2005. For the purpose of these elections, each of the 23 provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires are considered electoral districts....
. Securing a seat in the 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....
(lower house of Congress), he forfeited it at the behest of the President, who requested that he stay on as Director of ANSeS. Remaining at the post two more years, he oversaw the voluntary conversion of several million private pension accounts to the ANSeS' aegis when this choice was made available in December 2006.
Massa was elected Mayor of the Paraná Delta
Paraná Delta
The Paraná Delta is the delta of the Paraná River in Argentina. The Paraná flows north–south and becomes an alluvial basin between the Argentine provinces of Entre Ríos and Santa Fe, then emptying into the Río de la Plata....
city of Tigre
Tigre, Buenos Aires
Tigre is a town in the Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, situated in the north of Greater Buenos Aires, north of Buenos Aires city. Tigre lies on the Paraná Delta and is an important tourist and weekend attraction, easily reached by bus and train services, including the scenic Tren de la Costa...
in October 2007. Those elections
Argentine 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...
also brought President Néstor Kirchner's wife, Senator Cristina Kirchner, to high office. Enjoying large majorities in Congress, her administration suffered its first major setback when her proposals for higher agricultural export taxes were defeated on July 16, 2008, with Vice President Julio Cobos
Julio Cobos
Julio César Cleto Cobos 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 , becoming Governor of Mendoza in 2003...
's surprise, tie-breaking vote against them. The controversy helped lead to the July 23 resignation of Alberto Fernández
Alberto Fernández
Alberto Ángel Fernández is an Argentine politician. He was the Chief of Cabinet of Argentina during Néstor Kirchner presidency, and part of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's. He resigned on July 23, 2008....
, the President's Cabinet Chief, and to his replacement with Sergio Massa who, at 36, became the youngest person to hold the influential post since its creation in 1994.
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:...
, Massa tendered his resignation to the President, effective July 7; he was replaced by 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,...
.