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The Argentine military seized political power during the , the ongoing disappearance, Torture , and Murder of thousands of suspected Political Dissident s and Leftist s during the junta's rule; the SIDE secret service also cooperated with DINA and other South American intelligence agencies in Operation Condor . After losing the Falklands War to the United Kingdom in 1982, mounting public opposition to the junta led to its voluntarily relinquishing power in 1983. BACKGROUND The Military had always been highly influential in Argentine politics. The popular Argentine leader, Juan Domingo Perón , three times President of Argentina, was himself a Colonel in the army, and initially came to hold political power in the aftermath of a military coup in 1943. He followed a nationalist policy which claimed to represent an alternative to both capitalism and communism. After being re-elected to the office of President by popular vote, Perón was deposed and exiled by A Catholic Nationalist Military Coup in 1955. After a series of weak governments, and a seven year long military government, Perón returned to Argentina, following 20 years exile in Franquist Spain , amidst escalating political unrest, divisions in the Peronist movement and outbreaks of politically motivated violence. His return was marked by the June 20, 1973 Ezeiza Massacre during which the right-wing Peronist movement became predominant. Peron was democratically elected President in 1973, but died in July 1974. His vice-president was his third wife, Isabel Martínez De Perón , but she proved to be a weak, ineffectual ruler. A number of revolutionary organizations — chief among them '' Montoneros '', a group of far-left-wing Peronists — escalated their campaign of political violence (including Kidnapping s and Bombing s) against the campaign of harsh repressive and retaliative measures enforced by the military, the police, and right-wing paramilitary groups such as the ''Triple A'' death squad, founded by José López Rega , Peron's Minister of Social Welfare and a member of P2 Masonic Lodge . The situation escalated until Martínez was overthrown and replaced by a military junta led by Lieutenant General Jorge Rafael Videla , on 24 March , 1976 . THE JUNTA See Also: Dirty War The expression "national reorganization process" was used to imply orderliness and control of the critical sociopolitical situation of Argentina at the time, but the dictatorial regime soon showed its true colours. (Secretaría de Inteligencia del Estado) also cooperated with the DINA and other South American intelligence agencies in what was known as Operation Condor . It would also train the Nicaragua n Contras , for example in Lepaterique 's base ( Honduras ). The regime shut down the Legislative Branch and restricted both Freedom Of The Press and Freedom Of Speech , adopting severe media Censorship . The 1978 World Cup , which Argentina hosted and won, was used as a means of propaganda and to rally its people under a nationalistic pretense. Corruption, a failing economy, growing public awareness of the harsh repressive measures taken by the regime, and the military defeat in the Falklands War to the United Kingdom in 1982, eroded the public image of the regime. The last ''de facto'' president, Reynaldo Bignone , was forced to call for elections by the lack of support within the Army itself and the steadily growing pressure of public opinion. On 30 October 1983 elections were held, and democracy was formally restored on December 10 with the assumption of President Raúl Alfonsín . ECONOMIC POLICIES Videla appointed José Alfredo Martínez De Hoz as Minister of Economy, charged with stabilizing it and privatizing state-owned companies, along what would later be known as Neoliberal lines. He was opposed by General Ramon Díaz, the Minister of Planning, who favored a Corporatist model, with the state retaining control of key industries. Although Díaz resigned, military officers, many of whom looked forward to jobs running state enterprises, blocked Martínez de Hoz's privatization efforts. Meanwhile, the Junta Borrowed Money Abroad for Public Works and social welfare spending. Martínez de Hoz was forced to rely on high Interest Rate s and an over-valued Exchange Rate to control Inflation , which hurt Argentine industry and exports. FRENCH SUPPORT French journalist 's ''Escadrons de la mort, l'école française'' . Green deputies When Minister of Foreign Affairs '', February 5, 2003 . AFTERMATH Following a decree of President Alfonsín mandating the initiation of legal accusations and trial against the leaders of the ''Proceso'', they were judged and convicted in 1985 ('' Juicio A Las Juntas ''), but they were Pardon ed by President Carlos Menem in 1989, a highly controversial action. Adolfo Scilingo , an Argentine naval officer during the junta, was tried for his role in jettisoning the drugged, naked bodies of political dissidents from military aircraft into the Atlantic Ocean during the junta years. He was convicted of Crimes Against Humanity and sentenced to 640 years in prison in Spain in 2005. Cristian Von Wernich , a Catholic priest and former Chaplain of the Buenos Aires Province Police , was arrested in 2003 on accusations of torture of political prisoners in illegal detention centers, and is awaiting trial. Former United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger has evaded Arrest Warrant s in several jurisdictions issued by Spanish judge Baltasar Garzón , who wishes to question Kissinger on possible War Crime s and Crimes Against Humanity charges for his alleged knowledge and encouragement of the Junta's crimes (among other causes). [http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/04/18/spain.kissinger/index.html COMMEMORATION In 2002 the Argentine Congress declared the date of 24 March the Day Of Memory For Truth And Justice , in commemoration for the victims of the dictatorship. In 2006, thirty years after the coup d'état that started the ''Proceso'', the Day of Memory was declared a National Public Holiday . The anniversary of the coup was remembered by massive official events and demonstrations throughout the country. REFERENCES SEE ALSO
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