Alberto Fernández

Alberto Fernández
Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers of Argentina
In office May 25, 2003 – July 23, 2008
President	Néstor Kirchner Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
Preceded by	Alfredo Atanasof
Succeeded by	Sergio Massa
Personal details
Born	2 April 1959 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Political party	Justicialist Party (Since 1995) Union of the Democratic Centre (1989 - 1995)
Spouse(s)	Marcela Luchetti
Alma mater	University of Buenos Aires

Alberto Ángel Fernández (born April 2, 1959) is an Argentine politician. He was the Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers during the entirety of Néstor Kirchner's presidency, and the early months of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's. His tenure as Cabinet Chief from 2003 to 2008 remains the longest since the post was created in 1994.

Biography

Fernández was born in Buenos Aires, where he would later attend Law School at the University of Buenos Aires. He graduated at the age of 24, and later became a professor of criminal law there. He entered public service as an adviser to Deliberative Council of Buenos Aires and the Argentine Chamber of Deputies. He later as Deputy Director of Legal Affairs of the Economy Ministry, and in this capacity served as chief Argentine negotiator at the GATT Uruguay Round. Nominated by newly elected President Carlos Menem to serve as National Superintendent for Insurance, served as President of the Latin American Insurance Managers' Association from 1989 to 1992, and co-founded the Insurance Managers International Association. He also served as adviser to Mercosur and ALADI on insurance law, and was involved in insurance and health services companies in the private sector. Fernández was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young People of Argentina in 1992, and was awarded the Millennium Award as one of the nation's Businessmen of the Century, among other recognitions.^[1] During this time he became politically close to former Buenos Aires Province Governor Eduardo Duhalde.^[2]

Fernández (right) with President Néstor Kirchner and Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana in 2007.

He was elected on June 7, 2000, to the Buenos Aires City Legislature on the conservative Acción por la República ticket led by former Economy Minister Domingo Cavallo. He gave up his seat when he was appointed Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers by President Néstor Kirchner upon taking office on May 25, 2003, and retained the same post under Kirchner's wife and successor, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, upon her election in 2007. His marriage suffered during this interim due to infidelity on his part, and in 2005 he and his wife separated.^[3] He later began a relationship with Congresswoman Vilma Ibarra.^[4]

A new system of variable taxes on agricultural exports led to the 2008 Argentine government conflict with the agricultural sector, during which Fernández acted as the government's chief negotiator. The negotiations failed, however, and following Vice President Julio Cobos' surprise, tie-breaking vote against the bill in the Senate, Fernández resigned on July 23, 2008.^[5] He was named head of the City of Buenos Aires chapter of the Justicialist Party, but minimized his involvement in Front for Victory campaigns for Congress in 2009.^[6] Fernández actively considered seeking the Justicialist Party presidential nomination ahead of the 2011 general elections.^[7] He ultimately endorsed President Cristina Kirchner for re-election, however.^[8]

References

1. "Clase Magistral". Univerdsidad Nacional de San Luis.
2. "El Pasado Menemista de un gobierno que acusa a la oposición de menemista". Perfil.
3. "Alberto Fernández habría vuelto con su esposa". Agencia Nova.
4. "Alberto Fernández y Vilma Ibarra más juntos que nunca". Perfil.
5. "Miguens afirmó que Fernández fracasó en la negociación con el campo". Los Andes.
6. "Kirchner cargó contra Cobos y De Narváez en un acto porteño". Clarín.
7. "Alberto Fernández reiteró que no descarta ser candidato a presidente en 2011". La Nación.
8. "Alberto Fernández se declara oficialista y ya se anota como candidato para 2015". La Nación.