Famous Argentine Political Leaders

José de San Martín was an Argentine general who played an important role in the Spanish American wars of independence. San Martín is considered a national hero of Peru and Argentina. The Order of the Liberator General San Martín, the highest honor conferred by the government of Argentina, was created in his honor.

Néstor Kirchner was an Argentine politician and lawyer best remembered for his service as the President of Argentina from 25 May 2003 to 10 December 2007. He also served as the Governor of Santa Cruz from 1991 to 2003. Kirchner, who had a great impact on Argentine politics, played a key role in the economic and foreign policies of Argentina.

Jorge Rafael Videla was an Argentine military officer who was appointed by President Isabel Perón as the General Commander of the Army in 1975. From 1976 to 1981, he served as the de facto President of Argentina after deposing Isabel Perón in a coup d'état. As a member of the Military Junta, Videla was later accused of violating human rights.

Leopoldo Galtieri was an Argentine politician and general. He is remembered for serving as the President of Argentina from 1981 to 1982. He played an important role in the National Reorganization Process and ruled as a military dictator as part of the Third Junta. A member of the 1976 military coup d'état, Galtieri overthrew Roberto Viola before ruling the country.

Manuel Belgrano was an Argentine lawyer, politician, economist, journalist, and military leader. Widely regarded as one of the most important Libertadores of Argentina, Belgrano played a prominent role in the Argentine Wars of Independence and is credited with creating the Flag of Argentina. Manuel Belgrano is regarded as one of the greatest heroes in the history of Argentina.

Raúl Alfonsín was an Argentine statesman and lawyer best remembered for his service as the President of Argentina from 1983 to 1989. Widely regarded as the father of modern democracy, Alfonsín was the first democratically elected President of Argentina after over seven years of military dictatorship. His political approach came to be known as Alfonsinism.

Domingo Faustino Sarmiento was an Argentine activist, writer, intellectual, and statesman. He is remembered for his service as the President of Argentina from 12 October 1868 to 11 October 1874. Sarmiento was part of a group called the Generation of 1837, which had a huge impact on 19th-century Argentina. Domingo Faustino Sarmiento also had a major influence on Argentine literature.

Reynaldo Bignone was an Argentine general who ruled as a military dictator from 1982 to 1983. He was involved in the kidnapping and murder of people who opposed the military junta during the Dirty War. He also ordered the annihilation of all documentation on the missing people. Reynaldo Bignone was sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment in 2010.

Hipólito Yrigoyen was an Argentine politician best remembered for his service as the President of Argentina on two occasions; from 1916 to 1922 and again from 1928 to 1930. He is also remembered for introducing numerous social reforms, including compulsory pensions, regulation of working hours, and improvements in factory conditions, for which he was called the father of the poor.

Roberto Eduardo Viola was an Argentine military officer best remembered for serving as the President of Argentina from March to December 1981. He was appointed as the president by a military junta before being ousted by a military coup led by Leopoldo Galtieri. In 1983, Viola was sentenced to 17 years of imprisonment for the violations committed by the junta.

Gabriela Michetti is an Argentine politician who became only the second woman from Argentina after Isabel Perón to serve as the vice president of the country; she served in this position from 2015 to 2019. Gabriela Michetti also served as the National Senator from 2013 to 2015.

Luis Moreno Ocampo is an Argentine lawyer who played an important role in the country's democratic transition between 1983 and 1991. In 2003, he became the first Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and served in that position until 2012.

Bartolomé Mitre was an Argentine soldier, statesman, and author. He is best remembered for his service as the President of Argentina from 12 October 1862 to 12 October 1868. A major political figure that best characterized liberalism in 19th century Argentina, Bartolomé Mitre was also a historian, journalist, writer, and poet.

Axel Kicillof is an Argentine economist and politician. He is the current Governor of Buenos Aires. An important politician, Axel Kicillof served as the Minister of Economy and Public Finances from 18 November 2013 to 10 December 2015. Prior to his political career, Kicillof worked as a professor.

Daniel Scioli is an Argentine politician, businessman, and sportsman. The current Ambassador of Argentina to Brazil, Scioli is also known for his service as the Vice President of Argentina from 2003 to 2007. From 2007 to 2015, he also served as the Governor of Buenos Aires. As a sportsperson, Daniel Scioli represented his city in swimming, basketball, and tennis.

Argentine Peronist politician and former president Adolfo Rodríguez Saá is the current national senator of the country. He made headlines when he resigned from his presidency in 2001, just 7 days after being sworn in, blaming the internal politics of his party amidst an economic crisis and civil unrest.

Argentine poet José Hernández is best known for his long epic poem Martín Fierro. Having spent a part of his life in the pampas, he learned the ways and means of the gauchos and often described them in his works, such as The Gaucho Martin Fierro, a fine work of gaucho poetry.

Amado Boudou is an Argentine politician and economist. He is best known for his service as the Vice President of Argentina from 10 December 2011 to 10 December 2015. An important politician, Amado Boudou also served as the Minister of Economy from 8 July 2009 to 10 December 2011.

Domingo Cavallo is an Argentine politician and economist. He is best known for his service as the Minister of Economy on two occasions; from 1 February 1991 to 6 August 1996 and again from March 2001 to December 2001. An important politician, Domingo Cavallo also served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 8 July 1989 to 31 January 1991.

Born to a Paraguayan mother and an Argentine father, Manuel Gondra initially proved himself to be an educational reformer and later led the country as its president. He had also been Paraguay’s minister to Brazil. The Liberal Party member was also an author and a journalist.