Héctor José Cámpora

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**Héctor Cámpora**

Term of Office:	May 25, 1973— July 13, 1973
Predecessor:	Alejandro Lanusse
Successor:	Raúl Lastiri
Vice-president:	Vicente Solano Lima
Date of Birth:	March 26, 1909
Place of Birth:	Mercedes, Buenos Aires
Date of Death:	December 18, 1980
Place of Death:	Mexico City
Profession:	Dentist
Political Party:	Justicialist

Héctor José Cámpora Demaestre (1909-1980) was president of Argentina from May 25 until July 13, 1973.

Cámpora, affectionately known as el Tío (the Uncle), was born in the city of Mercedes, in the Province of Buenos Aires. He earned a degree on dentistry and practiced his trade in his hometown before moving to nearby San Andrés de Giles.

As Juan Domingo Perón's "personal delegate," he ran for president in 1973 to circumvent the veto on Perón's participation in the election which had been issued by Argentine dictator Gen. Alejandro Agustín Lanusse. The presidential ticket also carried Vicente Solano Lima as candidate for vice president. Despite Campora's own left-leaning tendencies, Solano Lima belonged to the Popular Conservative Party.

Cámpora won the election with more than 49.5% of the votes. The Radical leader, Ricardo Balbín, had arrived second with 25%, but it was enough to put Campora in ballotage, as absolute majority was necessary to avoid a second turn. However, he resigned his right in order to avoid a political crisis, and recognized his defeat. Cámpora assumed his functions on May 25, 1973, in the presence of Chilean President Salvador Allende and Cuban President Osvaldo Dorticós. A million persons gathered on the Plaza de Mayo to acclaim the new President.

One of Cámpora's first presidential actions was a granting of amnesty to political prisoners. This triggered a massive release of prisoners, including convicted criminals, even before the amnesty was signed.

On May 28 Argentina restored diplomatic relations with Cuba, which then received Argentine aid - such as food and industrial products - to break the United States embargo against Cuba.

During Cámpora's first months of government, approximatively 600 social conflicts, strikes and factory occupations had taken place.^[1]

Cámpora's ideology set him against the right-wing tedencies of Peronism. When Perón returned to Argentina (June 20, 1973), his plane had to be redirected to a military airport because of fighting between armed Peronist factions that had massed to greet his arrival at Buenos Aires's main airport. This event, known as the Ezeiza Massacre, left 13 dead.

José Ber Gelbard, president of a small and medium-sized enterprise association, was designated as minister of economics. Gelbard tried to establish a "social pact" among the CGT workers and the "National Bourgeoisie", including a price freeze and widespread salary hikes.

Finally, on July 13, 1973 Cámpora resigned to allow Juan Domingo Perón to return to power. He was later designated as Argentine ambassador to México.

After the coup d'etat that displaced Perón's successor, wife Isabel Perón, in 1976, Cámpora sought refugee at the Mexican embassy in Buenos Aires. Three years later, he was allowed to fly to México. Cámpora died in Cuernavaca shortly after his arrival.