Carlos Menem obituary

Former president of Argentina who imposed sweeping neoliberal cuts during a scandal-dogged time in office

Carlos Menem, who has died aged 90, was elected to his first term as president of Argentina in 1989 on a platform of leftist nationalism, which he immediately ditched in favour of a drastic programme of neoliberalism. So skilfully did he perform this political conjuring trick that he was able, via a constitutional change, to obtain a second term in 1995.

Argentina would baulk when, in 1999, he proposed a third. By then, the magic had long been rubbing off. But Menem never ceased to believe in his own ability to reinvent himself. Although pursued for corruption and illicit arms deals, and at one point placed under house arrest, he always seemed able to bounce back.

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