Peron elected in Argentina
Juan Domingo Peron the controversial former vice president of Argentina is elected president.In 1943 as an army officer he joined a military coup against Argentinas ineffectual civilian government.Appointed secretary of labor his influence grew and in 1944 he also became vice president and minister of war.In October 1945 Peron was ousted from his positions by a coup of constitutionally minded civilians and officers and imprisoned but appeals from workers and his charismatic mistress Eva Duarte soon forced his release.
The night of his release October 17 he addressed a crowd of some 300000 people from the balcony of the presidential palace and promised to lead the people to victory in the coming presidential election.Four days later Peron a widower married Eva Duarte or Evita as she became affectionately known.As president Peron constructed an impressive populist alliance and his vision of self-sufficiency for Argentina won him wide support.However he also became increasingly authoritarian jailing political opponents and restricting freedom of the press.
In 1952 his greatest political resource Evita died and support for him dissolved.Three years later he was ousted in a military coup.In 1973 after 18 years of exile he returned to Argentina and won the presidency again.
His third wife Isabel de Martinez Peron was elected as vice president and in 1974 succeeded him upon his death.
