Juan Manuel Urtubey (born September 6, 1969) is an
Argentine
Argentines (mistakenly translated Argentineans in the past; in Spanish (masculine) or (feminine)) are people identified with the country of Argentina. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Argentines, ...
politician, lawyer, university professor and former governor of
Salta Province. Formerly a senior figure in the ruling
Front for Victory
The Front for Victory ( es, Frente para la Victoria, FPV) was a centre-left Peronist electoral alliance in Argentina, and is formally a faction of the Justicialist Party. Former presidents Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner we ...
faction of the
Justicialist Party (PJ) in the
Argentine Chamber of Deputies and chairman of both the Constitutional Affairs Committee and the Peronist Caucus, Urtubey became governor in the 2007 elections, being only 38 years old. He was reelected in 2011 with almost 60% of the vote, and in 2015 with 51% of the vote.
He ran for vice president with
Roberto Lavagna
Roberto Lavagna (born 24 March 1942) is an Argentine economist and politician who was Minister of Economy and Production from April 27, 2002 until November 28, 2005.
Despite the fact that he only garnered 6% of the votes in 2019 presidential e ...
in 2019.
Biography
Urtubey was born in
Salta City on September 6, 1969, the eight of ten brothers, being his father, Rodolfo Urtubey a lawyer and his mother a
notary
A notary is a person authorised to perform acts in legal affairs, in particular witnessing signatures on documents. The form that the notarial profession takes varies with local legal systems.
A notary, while a legal professional, is disti ...
. His father is a former president of the Supreme Court of the Salta Province.
He completed his elementary studies at Escuela Parroquial de la Merced, and his high school studies at Bachillerato Humanista Moderno.
When young, he played
rugby
Rugby may refer to:
Sport
* Rugby football in many forms:
** Rugby league: 13 players per side
*** Masters Rugby League
*** Mod league
*** Rugby league nines
*** Rugby league sevens
*** Touch (sport)
*** Wheelchair rugby league
** Rugby union: 1 ...
at Jockey Club of Salta, and was part of the U-19 Salta Province rugby team.
Since young, he developed interest for
political activities, and took his uncle,
Julio Mera Figueroa, a
peronist politician as a mentor.
He studied law at
University of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires ( es, Universidad de Buenos Aires, UBA) is a public research university in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Established in 1821, it is the premier institution of higher learning in the country and one of the most prestigi ...
, completing his studies in only three years.
He is married to Ximena Saravia Toledo, and has four children: Marcos (1994), Lucas (1997), Mateo (2000) and Juana (2003).
He is brother to
José Urtubey, manager of the
Argentine Industrial Union;
Rodolfo Urtubey, national
senator; and
Alejandro Urtubey, businessman and former airplane pilot.
In addition, Urtubey is a law professor at the
National University of Salta
The National University of Salta ( es, Universidad Nacional de Salta, or UNSa) is an Argentine public national university
A national university is mainly a university created or managed by a government, but which may also at the same time ope ...
.
Political career
During the
Juan Carlos Romero administration of Salta Province, he became Secretary of State of
Salta Province in 1995, moving to become provincial government spokesman in 1996.
In 1997 he was elected provincial congressman until 1999. In that office he was elected as chairman of General Law Committee.
In 1999 he was elected
National Deputy and served as Constitution Affairs Committee chairman for 5 years (2002–2007), as secretary of other two committees and
Justicialist Party (PJ) caucus chairman.
Due to his legislative activity during his eight years in Congress, he was chosen five times as one of the ten most active congressmen. His most important activities were to be co-author of the
Obediencia Debida and
Punto Final
''Punto Final'' was a biweekly news and political magazine published in Santiago, Chile. The magazine was in circulation between September 1965 and 9 March 2018.
History and profile
''Punto Final'' was established in 1965. The first issue appea ...
laws, that helped to pursue
last military coup crimes against humanity.
In 2003 he was elected member for the
Constituent assembly
A constituent assembly (also known as a constitutional convention, constitutional congress, or constitutional assembly) is a body assembled for the purpose of drafting or revising a constitution. Members of a constituent assembly may be elected b ...
in the context of Salta Province constitutional reform.
Since 1998 he has been dean of the Public Administration School, under the Government of the Salta province which intends to educate and permanently train public employees.
In 2007 he was elected Governor of the Province of Salta for the
Frente Para la Victoria
The Front for Victory ( es, Frente para la Victoria, FPV) was a centre-left Peronist electoral alliance in Argentina, and is formally a faction of the Justicialist Party. Former presidents Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner we ...
party, defeating by a very low margin Walter Waynar, candidate supported by the former governor, Juan Carlos Romero.
In 2011 he was re-elected governor. In this time he obtained 60% of votes, over 25,64% of his opponent
Alfredo Olmedo.
Urtubey has heavily supported minority rights expansion, becoming, for example, one of the main supporters of LGBT rights in Argentina. He is also a member of Washington D.C. based think tank, The
Inter-American Dialogue.
He has publicly stated his intention to run for President of Argentina in the 2015 elections
IN SPANISH, La Nación Newspaper, "Juan Manuel Urtubey: I never liked the friend-enemy idea" 01/24/2014, last checked 7/20/2014 and the press has also speculated about him running as vice-president of either of the candidates
Daniel Scioli
Daniel Osvaldo Scioli (, ; born 13 January 1957) is an Argentine politician, sportsman, and businessman. He was Vice President of Argentina from 2003 to 2007 and Governor of Buenos Aires Province from 2011 to 2015. From 2020 to 2022 he was Arge ...
and
Sergio Massa
Sergio may refer to:
* Sergio (given name), for people with the given name Sergio
* Sergio (carbonado), the largest rough diamond ever found
* ''Sergio'' (album), a 1994 album by Sergio Blass
* ''Sergio'' (2009 film), a documentary film
* ''Se ...
.
IN SPANISH, Rio Negro Newspaper, "Daniel Scioli shows himself with Urtubey" 01/24/2014, last checked 7/20/2014 He ran instead for reelection as governor, defeating Romero and staying for the 2015–2019 period.
Summary of his political career
* Elected Governor of the Province of Salta 2011–2015.
* Elected Governor of the Province of Salta 2007–2010.
*
Argentine Chamber of Deputies, National Congressman 1999–2007:
:* Chamber of Deputies Constitution Affairs Committee chairman 2002–2007.
:* Secretary of the following congressional committees: Penal Law and Sports.
:* Member of the following congressional committees: Budget and Economy, Communications and IT, Justice, Petitions, Addiction Prevention and drug trafficking, Social Security, Energy, Small and Medium Businesses, Freedom of Expression and Special Committee for the control of the works at Río Bermejo.
:* Member of the
Ombudsman bi-cameral committee.
:* Argentine representative for the Human Rights Committee of the
Latin-American Parliament.
:*
Justicialist Party caucus chairman of the
Argentine Chamber of Deputies 2005–2007.
* Member of the
Constituent assembly
A constituent assembly (also known as a constitutional convention, constitutional congress, or constitutional assembly) is a body assembled for the purpose of drafting or revising a constitution. Members of a constituent assembly may be elected b ...
of the Province of Salta in 2003.
* Provincial Secretary of the
Justicialist Party in the Province of Salta 2002–2006.
* Secretary of International Relationships of the
Justicialist Party in the Province of Salta 2002–2006.
* Dean of the Public Management School since 1998.
* Provincial deputy for the Capital Department, Salta Province 1997–1999.
* General Law committee chairman in the Provincial Chamber of deputies 1997–1999.
* Secretary of Press - provincial spokesman. Salta Province 1996–1997.
* Secretary of State of the Province of Salta 1995–1996.
Political profile
Juan Manuel Urtubey is critic of his predecessor, Juan Carlos Romero, to whom he blames faults in his administration that constituted many of the problems for the incumbent government. He qualified Juan Carlos Romero, former vice-president candidate to
Carlos Menem, as the leader of a "pseudo-feudal regime" and head of the "old politics".
In a national level, Urtubey is a member of the
Justicialist Party (PJ), having been PJ Caucus Chairman when being national deputy. In spite of his alliance to the current Argentine President
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
Cristina Elisabet Fernández de Kirchner (; born 19 February 1953), often referred to by her initials CFK, is an Argentine lawyer and politician who has served as the Vice President of Argentina since 2019. She also served as the President o ...
he was always noticed for publicly criticizing National Government's actions, decisions and policies he opposed to. In this line he criticized the "personalist" characteristic of
Kirchnerism
Kirchnerism ( es, Kirchnerismo ) is an Argentine political movement based on populist ideals formed by the supporters of Néstor Kirchner and his wife Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who consecutively served as Presidents of Argentina. Althou ...
and opposed the re-election of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.
Urtubey keeps a tense relationship with the newspaper
El Tribuno
''El Tribuno'' is an Argentine newspaper and media group from Salta Province. Widely criticized for its pro- Peronist tilt, it is the only newspaper in Salta Province, and also publishes a Jujuy Province edition.
Founded by Jaime and Ricardo Dur ...
, owned by former governor Romero, political opponent of Urtubey. This newspaper does not only criticizes permanently Urtubey's office, but has also provenly invented news. One of those examples is an article that narrated the story of "an poor mother that boiled a rock to look as she was cooking while her famished sons went to sleep", with an illustrative picture. Not later, it was proved that this picture was taken from a Mexican Newspaper that recounted that story that happened in Honduras.
Urtubey had been frequently criticized for his extravagant way of life that includes sport motorcycle riding, or
bungee jumping from the highest building in
Auckland
Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about ...
.
He has been always close to
Jorge Bergoglio
Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013. ...
, far before to his election as Catholic Church Pope. However, obeyed the Pope's will when he asked Argentinians "to avoid traveling to Rome, but give away that money to poor people".
Government of Salta 2007-2011
In 2007 he was elected Governor of Salta with 45,47% of votes.
Economy
In many ways, Urtubey followed his predecessor's economic policy: he encouraged international investment, encouraged exports, improved land and air communications between Salta Province and the rest of the county, improved tax policies and invested in infrastructure.
However, in many aspects, his economic policy was innovative for the Province: he renewed the public employee payroll as to include in the provincial Government trained youth force from every social strata.
In 2009, he nationalized the Provincial Water Supply Company, as to improve access to drinking water.
In 2010, the province took control of the Materno Infantil Hospital, which was controversially privatized by former governor Juan Carlos Romero.
Regarding to Tourism Policies, the Province encouraged international quality sport events, as to make Salta one of the principal tourist destinations in South America. For example, National Rugby team hosted a test match against England in the province. In 2010,
Rally Dakar raced across Salta Province.
Democracy
With Urtubey in office, Salta Province became the first Province in Argentina to use
Electronic voting
Electronic voting (also known as e-voting) is voting that uses electronic means to either aid or take care of casting and counting ballots.
Depending on the particular implementation, e-voting may use standalone ''electronic voting machines'' ( ...
which benefits electoral transparency and accelerates vote counting.
This system in particular, was praised by international observers.
Doctor
Nestor Pedro Sagüés, constitutional law expert and professor, concluded that electronic voting in Salta satisfies the conditions recommended by the Constitutional Court of Germany.
Controversies
New education law and religious education
In 1886, Catholic education was imposed in the province. Since then, only three Argentine provinces (Salta, Jujuy and Santiago del Estero) have been the only ones in which Catholic education is compulsory.
IN SPANISH, La Cronista Newspaper, 12/14/2008, last checked 07/20/2014''.
In 2008, during Juan Manuel Urtubey government, the Provincial Congress modified these laws. The new laws established religious education in every provincial school without distinction of belief. This, was criticized by many sectors, that demanded complete banning of religious education in public Schools. In spite of the criticism, it was declared constitutional by the Provincial Supreme Court.
Human rights
In 2011, many political factions criticized former governor Juan Carlos Romero, current governor Urtubey and other political movements in Salta due to opinions and policies regarding
LGBT
' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity.
The LGBT term ...
minorities. They demanded Urtubey abolition of laws that banned prostitution.
However, in 2013, Urtubey's office was praised by diverse LGTB organizations by transforming Salta into one of the first provinces to accept gender identity.
In march, 2012, after the ruling of the Argentine Supreme Court, Salta became the first province to regulate non punishable abortion. Urtubey authorized this law in spite of his personal beliefs.
Government of Salta 2011–2015
Historic Reparation Fund
On November 17, 2011, encouraged by Governor Urtubey, the provincial congress passed the law number 7651 that created the Historic Reparation Fund for the North of the Province of Salta. This law authorized to destine u$s 220.000.000 to finance an Infrastructure Plan for the Departaments of Oran, San Martín and Rivadavia. This funds are used to finance infrastructured agreed by the provincial and municipal governments.
The Historic Reparation Fund, "breaks the negative intromission of sectors that don't represent institutions" as well as benefiting "the long forgotten people of Salta" by creating infrastructure and jobs.
Tourism
Since his second provincial government, Urtubey works together with
Daniel Scioli
Daniel Osvaldo Scioli (, ; born 13 January 1957) is an Argentine politician, sportsman, and businessman. He was Vice President of Argentina from 2003 to 2007 and Governor of Buenos Aires Province from 2011 to 2015. From 2020 to 2022 he was Arge ...
, governor of
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...
Province in the area of tourism.
[ IN SPANISH, Infonews, 23/01/2014, last checked 07/20/2014]
Publications
* Sembrando Progreso. Claves del Desarrollo de Salta. Ed. Hanne, 1999. .
* Invited columnist in newspapers and magazines of Argentina, Chile and Brasil.
* "La Escuela", Public Administration School Magazine (Editor).
* "Argentina 2020-Propuestas para profundizar la transformación". Compilator Nicolás Trotta. Ed. Lumiere, 2006.
References
External links
Official campaign siteOfficial site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Urtubey, Juan
1969 births
Living people
Argentine people of Basque descent
University of Buenos Aires alumni
20th-century Argentine lawyers
Justicialist Party politicians
Members of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies elected in Salta
Governors of Salta Province
Members of the Inter-American Dialogue
National University of Salta faculty