Carlos Menem

Carlos Saúl Menem (July 2, 1930 – February 14, 2021) was an Argentine politician and writer. He was the President of Argentina from July 8, 1989 to December 10, 1999.^[1] From 1973 to 1976 and again from 1983 to 1989, Menem was Governor of La Rioja.

Carlos Menem
Official presidential portrait of Menem
47th President of Argentina
In office July 8, 1989 – December 10, 1999
Vice President	Eduardo Duhalde (1989-1991) None (1991-1995) Carlos Ruckauf (1995-1999)
Preceded by	Raúl Alfonsín
Succeeded by	Fernando de la Rúa
National Senator of Argentina
In office December 10, 2005 – February 14, 2021
Constituency	La Rioja
Governor of La Rioja
In office December 10, 1983 – July 8, 1989
Vice Governor	Bernabé Arnaudo
Preceded by	Military Junta
Succeeded by	Bernabé Arnaudo
In office May 25, 1973 – March 24, 1976
Preceded by	Military Junta
Succeeded by	Military Junta
Personal details
Born	Carlos Saúl Menem (1930-07-02)July 2, 1930 Anillaco, La Rioja, Argentina
Died	February 14, 2021(2021-02-14) (aged 90) Buenos Aires, Argentina
Nationality	Argentine
Political party	Justicialist
Spouse(s)	Zulema Yoma (1966–91) (divorced) Cecilia Bolocco (2001–11) (divorced)
Relations	Saúl Menem Mohibe Akil
Children	Zulema Menem Carlos Saúl Facundo Menem Carlos Nair Menem Máximo Saúl Menem
Profession	Lawyer
Signature

Menem was the first Argentine president to visit Israel.^[2] He was a supporter of Peronist ideas.

After he moved to Chile, Argentina tried to extradite him. In 2005, he became Senator for La Rioja.

In 2003, he ran for president again and narrowly won the first round of the election. However he dropped out of the race after seeing that Néstor Kirchner would beat him in the second round.

Some Argentines believe that his name brings bad luck, something that Menem also believed.^[3][4]

On 15 December 2020, he was hospitalized in Buenos Aires for a urinary tract infection.^[5][6][7] On 24 December, he suffered from kidney failure and was in a coma.^[8][9] Menem died on 14 February 2021 from problems caused by the infection, aged 90.^[10]