Mauricio Macri

Mauricio Macri
Casa Rosada · CC BY 2.5 ar · source
Name	Mauricio Macri
Birth name	Mauricio Macri
Birth date	1959-02-08
Birth place	Tandil, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
Nationality	Argentina
Occupation	Politician; businessman; football executive
Alma mater	Universidad Católica Argentina; Università degli Studi di Brescia
Spouse	Juliana Awada
Party	Republican Proposal

Mauricio Macri is an Argentine politician and businessman who served as President of Argentina from 2015 to 2019. A scion of a prominent Macri family in Buenos Aires, he rose from corporate leadership and football administration to municipal power as Head of Government of Buenos Aires and national leadership with the Cambiemos coalition. His presidency pursued market-oriented reforms, negotiated with international institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and engaged with regional actors including Brazil and United States.

Early life and education

Born in Tandil to the Macri family—a family of Italian-Argentine origins linked to Corleone ancestry—he is the son of Franco Macri and Alicia Blanco Villegas. He attended the Colegio Cardenal Newman and studied engineering and management at the Universidad Católica Argentina and completed postgraduate studies at the Università degli Studi di Brescia. During his youth he was exposed to the business networks of CONADEP-era elites and developed ties with figures in Buenos Aires Province industry and banking, including contacts with Grupo Macri affiliates and executives from Socma holdings.

Business career and Boca Juniors

Macri began his career in the private sector with roles at Sevel Argentina and later led Socma. He became prominent as president of Boca Juniors, the Buenos Aires football club, where his administration modernized commercial operations, negotiated sponsorships with Adidas and Puma, and oversaw stadium projects at La Bombonera. Under his tenure the club won multiple titles in competitions such as the Copa Libertadores and the Primera División, increasing revenues through partnerships with entities like CONMEBOL and broadcasters including TyC Sports and Fox Sports. His tenure intertwined with sports administrators from AFA and political figures from PRO networks.

Political rise and mayoralty of Buenos Aires

Transitioning into politics, he co-founded the Propuesta Republicana (PRO) and allied with leaders from Unión Cívica Radical and Coalición Cívica to form coalitions culminating in the Cambiemos alliance. Elected Head of Government of Buenos Aires in 2007 and re-elected in 2011, his municipal administration implemented policies including privatizations of urban services, partnerships with multinationals such as Siemens and Telefonica, and urban projects involving architects linked to Renzo Piano and firms from Spain and Italy. He faced opposition from Kirchnerism and figures such as Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner while cooperating with provincial leaders like Horacio Rodríguez Larreta and negotiators from Buenos Aires City Legislature.

Presidency (2015–2019)

Elected President of Argentina in 2015 as the candidate of Cambiemos, he defeated contenders including Daniel Scioli and secured international outreach to leaders such as Barack Obama, David Cameron, and Jair Bolsonaro. His administration pursued macroeconomic adjustments, fiscal reforms interacting with the International Monetary Fund, and lifted currency controls affecting the Argentine peso and relationships with bondholders including litigants from Paul Singer's Elliott Management Corporation. Policy shifts involved negotiations with G20 partners, engagement with China on investment, and trade dialogues with Mercosur members like Brazil and Uruguay. His government faced inflationary pressures, social protests led by unions such as CGT and CTA, and controversies over austerity measures debated in the National Congress.

Post-presidency and legal controversies

After leaving office he returned to private life while remaining politically active within PRO and opposition coalitions like Juntos por el Cambio. He became subject to multiple investigations and charges involving alleged corruption and alleged irregularities tied to public works contracts with firms such as Iecsa and dealings connected to Odebrecht-related probes in Latin America. Judicial proceedings involved magistrates from the Federal Court system, prosecutors affiliated with the Prosecutor's Office, and inquiries into alleged espionage linked to security agencies and ministries during his administration. Cases elicited responses from international observers and legal advocacy groups including Transparency International.

Political positions and ideology

Macri identifies with center-right and liberal-conservative positions, advocating market-friendly policies, privatization initiatives, and fiscal austerity consistent with economists associated with Chicago Boys-style reforms and advisors from institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. He has emphasized trade liberalization vis-à-vis Mercosur integration and pursued bilateral ties with United States and European Union members including Germany and Spain. On social issues he has had a complex record intersecting with debates driven by actors like Evangelical churches and civil society organizations including Human Rights Watch and local NGOs focused on reproductive rights.

Personal life and legacy

He married Juliana Awada, a businesswoman with ties to the textile sector and diplomatic circles in Buenos Aires; their family has been part of social networks including the Argentine aristocracy and media personalities from outlets such as La Nación and Clarín. His legacy remains contested: supporters cite infrastructure projects and reintegration with global markets, while critics point to inflation, debt restructuring with the IMF, and ongoing legal disputes involving prosecutors and judges from the Judiciary of Argentina. His influence persists within parties like Republican Proposal and coalitions such as Juntos por el Cambio as Argentine politics continue to involve figures like Sergio Massa and Alberto Fernández.

Category:Presidents of Argentina Category:People from Buenos Aires Province