MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina honours Alfonsin and return of democracy in 1983

Former Pte. Alfonsin next to Pte. Cristina Fernadez

Former Argentine president Raul Alfonsin, the first elected leader following the cataclysm of the 1982 Falklands/Malvinas conflict was honoured this week with the unveiling of a bust in Government House, Casa Rosada

Argentina this year is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the return to democracy following decades of political instability and military regimes, and Mr. Alfonsin was the man who opened the way in 1983. At Government House Mr. Alfonsin was received and escorted by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner to the Chamber of Busts where representatives from the three branches of government were waiting. "I never expected to have the privilege of being present at the inauguration of a monument dedicated to me", said Mr. Alfonsin who was received with an ovation and applauses. "President Alfonsin is the symbol of the return of democracy to Argentina", underlined Mrs. Kirchner. Present at the ceremony were former president Nestor Kirchner, vice president Julio Cobos, cabinet members, Magistrates, Congressmen and members of cabinet and Congress from Alfonsin's administration. "Today we have freedom in Argentina but we are still missing fairness and equality", said the former president. His monument inaugurated the Chamber of busts, which said Mrs. Kirchner "will honour presidents elected by the people but not the many de facto usurpers Argentina has had in the last decades". However Mr. Alfonsin in spite of his age and walking cane, from his seat of honour called on Argentine politicians "to work for consensuses" and warned that "Argentines still live in an incomplete democracy". Mr. Alfonsin took office on December 10, 1983, Human Rights Day but handed the presidential sash and cane to Carlos Menem in July 1989 who had been elected two months before. Under his government human and civil rights became the norm; military Junta members were sent to trial and sentenced to jail; he managed to defeat a serious military uprising; signed a peace treaty with Chile ratified with a referendum but unfortunately was not so successful with his economic policies. A financial fallout and hyperinflation forced him to cut short his six year mandate by six months.