Alfonsin, Raul Ricardo (b. Province of Buenos Aires, 13 Mar. 1927) Argentine; President 1983–9 Born of a middle-class family, Alfonsin was educated at military academy but went on to study law. In 1963 he was elected as a deputy for the Radical Civic Union. On the left of the party, he achieved prominence under the military regime of 1976–83 as a result of his courageous stance on the human rights issue. In 1983 he was elected President, largely because he was not a Perónist .

No economist, Alfonsin came to power at the high point of the debt crisis and his response was hesitant. Not until 1985 did he adopt a radical approach to Argentina's difficulties but his ...