Perón’s Rise: Argentina’s Political Landscape
Perón’s Rise to Power
Q Charges occupy Peron. – November 1943 -> Department of Labor. December —–> Secretariat of Labor and – May 1944 —> Minister of War. June —-> Vice-President.
Argentina’s Position in World War II
Argentina remained neutral in the early years of World War II. In January 1944, Argentina broke diplomatic relations with the Axis powers. In March 1945, it declared war on Germany and Japan.
Perón’s Preparation for Leadership
After the coup of June 4, 1943, Colonel Perón occupied a government post, initially as the Head of the Ministry of War. On October 27, he was appointed director of the Department of Labor and initiated a policy of engaging with union leaders and workers.
Perón and His Approach to the Labor Movement
- Perón made progress in enacting legislation and social association, improving the position of workers against their employers and allowing an improvement in their living conditions.
- He penalized the “Law of redundancies,” which guaranteed compensation in case of unfair dismissal.
- Established retirement benefits.
- Implemented “The Statute of Perón,” which set a minimum wage and better food, housing, and jobs for rural workers.
- Created employment tribunals.
- Improved wages and established bonuses for all workers.
Formation of Opposing Social Alliances
The social policies driven by Perón were producing political groupings of various sectors of Argentine society. Workers and social sectors benefiting directly from Perón’s policies grouped around the Secretariat of Labor and Welfare.
Sectors with political opposition to Perón grouped in a social and political alliance around an institution of the Supreme Court.
Opposition also grew among the military, particularly nationalist and Catholic officials, who were concerned about Perón’s accumulation of power (holding three positions). The political opposition identified Perón’s government as fascist and demanded elections to restore legitimacy.
President Farrell pledged to hold elections, trying to find a political solution to the crisis. The opposition coalition called for a march “of the constitution and freedom” in September 1945, with about 200,000 people demanding the delivery of the government to the president of the Supreme Court and immediate free elections.
The military removed Perón from power, sending him as a prisoner to Martín García Island on December 10.
First Government of Perón: The Role of the State
The state assumed a clear role of intervention in the economy, particularly through the implementation of a 1-year plan, a program with the state planning the economy, setting targets and goals to achieve in 5 years.
The state’s planning sought more social justice, improving the living conditions of workers and encouraging industrial development demanded by employers. It raised the purchasing power of workers, increasing employment levels and wages.
Between 1946 and 1950, the state assumed a role as an entrepreneur, taking charge of various tasks previously handled by the private sector.
In 1946, he nationalized the Central Bank and bank deposits, allowing the state to control the country’s financial policy and support industrial activity.
It created the IAPI (Argentine Institute for the Promotion of Exchange), which controlled the management of foreign trade, fixing prices, regulating imports, and safeguarding national production. With the IAPI and state marketing, a wealth of resources was derived in part to industrial activity and partly towards social investment.