MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Menem and former beauty queen are formally divorced

When the marriage was a fairy tale

Former Argentine president Carlos Menem (1989/1999) and Chilean ex Miss Universe and CNN television presenter Cecilia Bolocco were formally divorced by a Buenos Aires court last week.

Judge Gladys Carminatti established an alimony of 9.000 Argentine pesos, equivalent to 2.500 US dollars for the support of their only child, Maximo who lives with the mother in Chile.

The sum agreed is a percentage of Menem’s for life presidential pension equivalent to approximately 9.000 US dollars. The magistrate also ruled that the father will have an ample and unrestricted visits agreement to see his son.

Ms Bolocco and Menem married in May 2001 and two years later had a child, Maximo Saul Menem Bolocco. However in 2007 the couple admitted that their marital relation had concluded and begun formal divorce procedure. This followed the publication of pictures of Ms Bolocco topless with another man in Miami.

The marriage of the former president with a beauty queen 35 years younger was seen at the time as an attempt by Menem to recover lost support and influence following the end of his ten year government.

Menem is currently senator for his home province La Rioja and is expected to run for re-election. The former president faces several trials for alleged corruption acts.

Although blamed by the Kirchner couple for the 2001/2002 financial crisis and melting of the Argentine economy, Menem’s vote in the Senate has been at time crucial for the administration of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.