Page 60 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

58  INTRODUCING ARGENTINA

The Peróns and Argentina

In 1946 the election of Juan Domingo Perón as president
revolutionized Argentina. Via a populist movement that
became known as Peronism, Perón empowered the urban poor
and working-class masses by addressing their plight and offering
them political participation. He and his charismatic wife Eva
Perón, called Evita by supporters, became icons by lifting millions
out of misery. In doing so they created a popular power base from
which they trans formed Argentina: building an authoritarian state Eva Duarte with Juan Perón
able to intervene in all aspects of Argentinian life. The social elite in 1945
branded the regime totalitarian and Perón a demagogue.

Juan Perón’s first
presidential cam paign
took place in 1946,
after he served as Labor
Minister in the military
dictator ship of the early
1940s. Eva Duarte,
affectio nately called
Evita (little Eva), a
famous radio actress
whose humble origins
gained her popularity
with the Argentinian
people, played a key
role in his victory.

By becoming the
champion of the
poorer classes or, as
she called them, the
descamisados (shirt less
ones), and working to Addressing the crowd at
provide them with Plaza de Mayo
housing, food, and
education via her Central to the Peróns’ huge populist
social-welfare foun- appeal was their ability to communicate
dation, Evita trans- with audiences. Enormous rallies – some
formed her cele brity numbering 350,000 – were held in Plaza
status to adula ted, de Mayo in Buenos Aires in which both
saintlike savior. Juan Perón and Evita would speak
directly to the thronging crowds from
the balcony of the presidential palace.

Eva Perón in Madrid
1946 Perón elected 1947 Evita embarks on 1949 Peronists remove constitutional
president and launches five- European Rainbow Tour; ban on presidential re-election
year economic plan she wins Argentinian
women the right to vote
1946 1948 1950
1948 Eva Perón Foundation Evita marking the fourth
Juan Perón taking established for the poor anniversary of Perón’s
the presidential oath and homeless government

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