Alfonsín Foulkes, Raúl Ricardo (1927- )

Argentine politician and president 1983-89. Becoming president at the time of the country's return to civilian government, after the junta's collapse after its defeat in the Falklands War, he set up an investigation of the army's human-rights violations, with the subsequent trial and detention of many former military and political leaders. Economic problems, leading to hyperinflation, caused him to seek help from the International Monetary Fund and introduce austerity measures, leading to debt restructuring and fiscal reform.

Educated at a military academy and a university law school, Alfonsín joined the Radical Union Party (UCR) at the age of 18 and eventually went on to lead it, until he was replaced in November 1995. He was active in local politics 1951-62, being imprisoned in 1953 by the right-wing Perón regime, and was a member of the national congress 1963-66. With the return to civilian government in 1983 and the legalization of political activity, Alfonsín and the UCR won convincing victories and he became president. Failures in economic policy, labour disputes, and hyperinflation led to riots and looting and persuaded him to step down in 1989, six months before the end of his term. His successor, the Perónist Carlos Menem, instituted emergency economic measures on taking office.