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Julio Cobos
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 Julio Cobos (2008) |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office December 10, 2007 |
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| President | Cristina Fernández de Kirchner |
| Preceded by | Daniel Scioli |
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| Born | April 30, 1955 Mendoza, Argentina |
| Political party | Radical Civic Union |
| Profession | Civil and construction engineer |
Julio César Cleto Cobos (born Mendoza, Argentina, April 30, 1955) is an Argentine politician, formerly of the Radical Civic Union (UCR), currently serving as the Vice President of Argentina alongside President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner [1]
Cobos has an academic background in civil engineering, graduating from the Universidad Tecnológica Nacional and teaching at this and other universities. He joined the UCR in 1991 and took public office as an official in the municipality of Mendoza then as minister of Environment and Public Works in the government of Mendoza Province 1999-2000. He was dean of the regional faculty of the Universidad Tecnológica Nacional 1997-2003. He was elected governor in 2003, heading a coalition between Radicals with Recrear and Federalists.
After his election, Cobos became a leading supporter of Peronist President Néstor Kirchner in Radical ranks, taking a more left-wing position. He was in dispute with other Radicals in Mendoza, led by former governor Roberto Iglesias, now Radical leader, over his support for Kirchner and their desire to back another presidential candidate in the 2007 elections.[2] Mendoza's constitution does not allow re-election; however Cobos supported Celso Jaque to take office in 2007 on the same slate as Kirchner.
Cobos was asked by Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to stand as her running mate in 2007 heading the Front for Victory slate. He accepted her offer and was consequently expelled by the Radicals in July 2007. Having won the election, Cobos was sworn in as Vice-President in December 2007.
On July 17, 2008, Cobos, as Vice President and leader of the Argentine Senate, cast the deciding vote rejecting an increase in grain export taxes.[3] This controversial bill had led to economic and social instability in Argentina, with mass protests against and in support of the government. Cobos had been expected to back President Fernández de Kirchner. "I think today is the most difficult day of my life," Cobos said. "They tell me I must go along with the government for institutional reasons, but my heart tells me otherwise. May history judge me, my vote is not for, it's against."[3] Cobos has said that the move diffused tensions in the country between farmers and the state.
Cobos' car managed to escape an attempted hijacking.[4]
Cobos refused to step down, while Fernandez has not asked for his resignation, as his approval rating has been double that of hers in some pollls. [5] Cobos recently criticized her decision to nationalize more than $25 billion in private pension funds was premature and would only create more doubts among investors about the stability of Argentina's investment climate. Kirchner, in response, said publicly that every morning his wife asks him, "What vice president did you stick me with, Nestor?"[6][7]
References
- (Spanish) Interview, Clarín, 2003-10-28
- (Spanish) CuyoNoticias
- (Spanish) Cobismo Digital
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Roberto Iglesias |
Governor of Mendoza 2003 – 2007 |
Succeeded by Celso Jaque |
| Preceded by Daniel Scioli |
Vice President of Argentina 2007–present |
Incumbent |
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