February 24 - Juan Perón is Elected as President

This Day in History: 24 February 2020

 

24 February 1946

 

74 years ago, today, Juan Perón was elected president of Argentina, after previously being the controversial vice president. He had joined a military coup against Argentina's ineffective civilian government in 1943, with his influence growing stronger the following year as he became vice president and the minister of war. Perón was removed from his positions in October 1945, however, by a coup of civilians and officers. He was imprisoned, but appeals from workers and his mistress, Eva Duarte, soon aided his release, on the night of which he addressed a crowd of around 300,000 people and promised to lead his people to victory in the next election.

 

As president of Argentina, Perón created a remarkable populist alliance, and his vision of self-sufficiency for Argentina helped him win the support of his people. However, over time, he became gradually authoritarian, and began to imprison political opponents and restrict the press' freedom of speech. In 1952, his wife, Eva Duarte, died, and support for him dissolved, as she had been his greatest political resource. Three years later, he was again ousted in a military coup, and in 1973, after 18 years in exile, he returned to the country and won the elections again.

 

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