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{{Short description|Argentine politician}}
{{Short description|Argentine politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
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|vicegovernor = [[Analía Rach Quiroga]]
|vicegovernor = [[Analía Rach Quiroga]]
|term_start = 10 December 2019
|term_start = 10 December 2019
|term_end =
|term_end = 10 December 2023
|predecessor = [[Domingo Peppo]]
|predecessor = [[Domingo Peppo]]
|successor = [[Leandro Zdero]]
|term_start1 = 27 February 2015
|term_end1 = 10 December 2015
|term1 = 10 December 2007 – 10 December 2015<br />{{small|On leave: 20 November 2013 – 27 February 2015}}
|vicegovernor1 = [[Juan Carlos Bacileff Ivanoff]]
|vicegovernor1 = [[Juan Carlos Bacileff Ivanoff]]
|predecessor1 = [[Juan Carlos Bacileff Ivanoff]]
|predecessor1 = [[Roy Nikisch]]
|successor1 = [[Domingo Peppo]]
|successor1 = [[Domingo Peppo]]
|term_start2 = 10 December 2007
|term_end2 = 20 November 2013
|vicegovernor2 = [[Juan Carlos Bacileff Ivanoff]]
|predecessor2 = [[Roy Nikisch]]
|successor2 = [[Juan Carlos Bacileff Ivanoff]]
|office3 = [[Resistencia, Chaco|Mayor of Resistencia]]
|office3 = [[Resistencia, Chaco|Mayor of Resistencia]]
|term_start3 = 10 December 2015
|term_start3 = 10 December 2015
Line 52: Line 46:
|alma_mater = [[National University of the Northeast]]<br>[[University of Belgrano]]<br>[[University of San Andrés]]
|alma_mater = [[National University of the Northeast]]<br>[[University of Belgrano]]<br>[[University of San Andrés]]
}}
}}
'''Jorge Milton Capitanich''' (born November 28, 1964) is an [[Argentina|Argentine]] politician, businessman, and accountant who is currently [[Governor of Chaco|Governor]] of [[Chaco Province]] since 2019, having held the position before from 2007 to 2013 and then from February to December 2015. A member of the [[Justicialist Party]], he previously served as [[Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers]] from 2013 until 2015, serving under President [[Cristina Fernández de Kirchner]], as ''[[intendente]]'' (mayor) of Chaco's capital city, [[Resistencia, Chaco|Resistencia]], and as [[Argentine Senate|National Senator]], representing Chaco as well. Since 2007 he has also been president of the Sarmiento Athletic Club.
'''Jorge Milton Capitanich''' (born November 28, 1964) is an [[Argentina|Argentine]] politician, businessman, and accountant. He served as [[Governor of Chaco|Governor]] of [[Chaco Province]] from 2007 to 2013, from February to December 2015, and later from 2019 to 2023. A member of the [[Justicialist Party]], he previously served as [[Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers]] from 2013 until 2015, serving under President [[Cristina Fernández de Kirchner]], as ''[[intendente]]'' (mayor) of Chaco's capital city, [[Resistencia, Chaco|Resistencia]], and as [[Argentine Senate|National Senator]], representing Chaco as well. Since 2007 he has also been president of the [[Club Atlético Sarmiento (Resistencia)|Club Atlético Sarmiento]].

Capitanich's career, stated ''[[La Nación]]'' in November 2013, has been “punctuated by harsh allegations of corruption.”<ref name=lanac1>{{cite news| title =Dos denuncias de corrupción que salpicaron a Jorge Capitanich| work =[[La Nación]]| date =Nov 21, 2013| url =http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1640309-dos-denuncias-de-corrupcion-que-salpicaron-a-jorge-capitanich}}</ref> He has been described elsewhere as “a true symbol of the corruption of politics in Argentina”<ref name=baja>{{cite web| title =ARGENTINA, CHACO: ¿QUIEN ES JORGE MILTON CAPITANICH POPOVICH?| work =Bajando Lineas| date =Jun 25, 2012| url =http://www.bajandolineas.com.ar/2012/06/argentina-chaco-quien-es-jorge-milton-capitanich-popovich/| url-status =dead| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20150402150309/http://www.bajandolineas.com.ar/2012/06/argentina-chaco-quien-es-jorge-milton-capitanich-popovich/| archivedate =2015-04-02}}</ref> He is said to have been a favorite of the late President [[Nestor Kirchner]],<ref name=perf>{{cite web| last =Leuco| first =Alfredo| title =El socio de Coqui| work =Perfil| date =Nov 29, 2013| url =http://www.perfil.com/columnistas/El-socio-de-Coqui-20131129-0064.html}}</ref> and ''[[La Nación]]'' has called him “a loyal Kirchnerista since the first hour” and a perennial [[Peron]]ist. As of November 2013, he was considered a leading contender in the presidential election of 2015.<ref name=lanac2>{{cite news| title =Quién es quién en el nuevo gabinete| work =[[La Nación]]| date =Nov 19, 2013| url =http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1639640-quien-es-quien-en-el-nuevo-gabinete}}</ref>

His nickname is “Coqui.”


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
Capitanich (originally ''Kapitanić'') descends from the first [[Montenegro|Montenegrins]] who settled in Chaco and created ''[[Montenegrins in Argentina|Colonia La Montenegrina]]'', the biggest Montenegrin colony in [[South America]]. He was born in [[Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña]], the son of Daniel Capitanich and Mirca Popovich, who owned a small farm.<ref name=baja/> The family hails from [[Banjani]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Metropolitan Amfilohije meets with Jorge Capitanich, Governor of the province of Chaco|publisher=SPC|url=http://www.spc.rs/eng/metropolitan_amfilohije_meets_jorge_capitanich_governor_province_chaco}}</ref>
Capitanich (originally ''Kapitanić'') descends from the first [[Montenegro|Montenegrins]] who settled in Chaco and created ''[[Montenegrins in Argentina|Colonia La Montenegrina]]'', the biggest Montenegrin colony in [[South America]]. He was born in [[Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña]], the son of Daniel Capitanich and Mirca Popovich, who owned a small farm.<ref name=baja>{{cite web| title =ARGENTINA, CHACO: ¿QUIEN ES JORGE MILTON CAPITANICH POPOVICH?| work =Bajando Lineas| date =Jun 25, 2012| url =http://www.bajandolineas.com.ar/2012/06/argentina-chaco-quien-es-jorge-milton-capitanich-popovich/| url-status =dead| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20150402150309/http://www.bajandolineas.com.ar/2012/06/argentina-chaco-quien-es-jorge-milton-capitanich-popovich/| archivedate =2015-04-02}}</ref> The family hails from [[Banjani]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Metropolitan Amfilohije meets with Jorge Capitanich, Governor of the province of Chaco|publisher=SPC|url=http://www.spc.rs/eng/metropolitan_amfilohije_meets_jorge_capitanich_governor_province_chaco|access-date=2016-01-23|archive-date=2021-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205103920/http://www.spc.rs/eng/metropolitan_amfilohije_meets_jorge_capitanich_governor_province_chaco|url-status=dead}}</ref>


He attended the [[National University of the Northeast]], graduating with a degree in [[accountancy]] in 1988. He earned a post-graduate degree in [[public administration]] from the [[University of Belgrano]] in 1991, and taught in his discipline. In 1999 he obtained a master's degree in Economics and Political Science at the School of Economics and Business Administration.<ref name=mision>{{cite web| title =Bendición presidencial para Capitanich: triple mal trago para Gildo Insfrán| work =Misiones para Todos| url =http://misionesparatodos.com/bendicion-presidencial-para-capitanich-triple-mal-trago-para-gildo-insfran/}}</ref>
He attended the [[National University of the Northeast]], graduating with a degree in [[accountancy]] in 1988. He earned a post-graduate degree in [[public administration]] from the [[University of Belgrano]] in 1991, and taught in his discipline. In 1999 he obtained a master's degree in Economics and Political Science at the School of Economics and Business Administration.<ref name=mision>{{cite web| title =Bendición presidencial para Capitanich: triple mal trago para Gildo Insfrán| work =Misiones para Todos| url =http://misionesparatodos.com/bendicion-presidencial-para-capitanich-triple-mal-trago-para-gildo-insfran/| access-date =2015-03-12| archive-date =2015-04-02| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150402120342/http://misionesparatodos.com/bendicion-presidencial-para-capitanich-triple-mal-trago-para-gildo-insfran/| url-status =dead}}</ref>
[[File:Jorge Capitanich 2015-02-02.jpg|thumb|left|Capitanich destroying a [[Clarín (Argentine newspaper)|Clarín newspaper]] after wrongly accusing the newspaper of publishing false information. 2015]]


==Career==
==Career==


===Early political career===
===Early political career===
Capitanich took up his first position in politics in 1987, serving as private secretary to the Governor of Chaco province, [[Danilo Baroni]],<ref name=lanac2/> a close friend of his father-in-law. Capitanich's wife, Sandra Marcela Mendoza, whom he met in 1985, herself said: “No 23-year-old gets a job as the governor’s private secretary unless it is by the request of someone very special, like my father.”
Capitanich took up his first position in politics in 1987, serving as private secretary to the Governor of Chaco province, [[Danilo Baroni]],<ref name=lanac2>{{cite news| title =Quién es quién en el nuevo gabinete| work =[[La Nación]]| date =Nov 19, 2013| url =http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1639640-quien-es-quien-en-el-nuevo-gabinete| access-date =March 12, 2015| archive-date =January 20, 2014| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140120165850/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1639640-quien-es-quien-en-el-nuevo-gabinete| url-status =dead}}</ref>


Capitanich thereafter experienced a quick rise through the government ranks. In 1994 he was named coordinator of a private-sector jobs-creation program in the Ministry of Assistance for the Reform of the Provincial Economy. The next year he became assistant secretary for technical-administrative coordination in the Ministry of Social Development. In 1998, he was appointed assistant secretary of social projects in the Ministry of Social Development. And in 2001, he was named Minister of Infrastructure.<ref name=baja/><ref name=bub>{{cite web| last =Beaudette| first =Noah| title =If Capitanich Wants to be President, He Needs a (Non) Crazy Ex-wife| work =The Bubble| date =Dec 20, 2013| url =http://www.bubblear.com/if-capitanich-wants-to-be-president-he-needs-a-non-crazy-ex-wife/}}</ref>
Capitanich thereafter experienced a quick rise through the government ranks. In 1994 he was named coordinator of a private-sector jobs-creation program in the Ministry of Assistance for the Reform of the Provincial Economy. The next year he became assistant secretary for technical-administrative coordination in the Ministry of Social Development. In 1998, he was appointed assistant secretary of social projects in the Ministry of Social Development. And in 2001, he was named Minister of Infrastructure.<ref name=baja/><ref name=bub>{{cite web| last =Beaudette| first =Noah| title =If Capitanich Wants to be President, He Needs a (Non) Crazy Ex-wife| work =The Bubble| date =Dec 20, 2013| url =http://www.bubblear.com/if-capitanich-wants-to-be-president-he-needs-a-non-crazy-ex-wife/}}</ref>

===Early business activities===
Shortly after Capitanich received his master's degree in 1999, politician and economist Domingo Cavallo hired him to handle a bank liquidation. He also was hired as a financial adviser for the province of Formosa. While he was performing this job, according to accusations later made by Deputy [[Carlos Ullrich]], Capitanich charged the province unusually high commissions. In a criminal complaint filed in 2002, Henos José Maza, a former governor of the province of Formosa, charged that Capitanich's actions as an accountant for the province had been irregular.<ref name=baja/><ref name=mision/>

In the 1990s, Capitanich formed several companies, including the consultancy firm M-Unit SRL, of which he sold his share in 2002, when he became head of the Cabinet under President Duhalde. In 1997, Capitanich and economist [[Aldo Ducler]], whom Néstor Kirchner employed to send irregularly obtained funds abroad, established the Fondagro investment fund together. In 2002, the U.S. investigated Ducler on charges of laundering money for the [[Juarez cartel]] and froze his bank accounts in [[New York (state)|New York]], which contained over $13 million in [[Mexico|Mexican]] narco-dollars. In response to the controversy, Capitanich sold his share in their joint business.<ref name=lanac1/><ref name=per>{{cite web| last =Sanz| first =Christian; Forte, Carlos| title =Aldo Ducler, el narcolavador socio de Capitanich y los Kirchner| work =Periodico Tribuna| date =Jan 29, 2014| url =http://periodicotribuna.com.ar/14998-aldo-ducler-el-narcolavador-socio-de-capitanich-y-los-kirchner.html}}</ref>


===Senate===
===Senate===
Capitanich was elected Senator for Chaco in October 2001, and named Argentina's interim [[Minister of Economy of Argentina]] during the [[December 2001 riots in Argentina|institutional crisis]] of December 21 of that year, serving for two days in the post. President [[Eduardo Duhalde]] appointed Capitanich [[Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers]] on January 2, 2002.<ref name=mision/> While in that position under Duhalde, Capitanich was involved in the consulting firm M-Unit, for which he was accused of arranging covert government financing.<ref name=baja/> He worked at M-Unit with Economy Minister Axel Kicillof, with whom he collaborated on a book.<ref name=per/> Capitanich held the position of Cabinet Chief until May 2002.
Capitanich was elected Senator for Chaco in October 2001, and named Argentina's interim [[Minister of Economy of Argentina]] during the [[December 2001 riots in Argentina|institutional crisis]] of December 21 of that year, serving for two days in the post. President [[Eduardo Duhalde]] appointed Capitanich [[Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers]] on January 2, 2002.<ref name=mision/> While in that position under Duhalde, Capitanich was involved in the consulting firm M-Unit, for which he was accused of arranging covert government financing.<ref name=baja/> He worked at M-Unit with Economy Minister Axel Kicillof, with whom he collaborated on a book.<ref name=per>{{cite web| last =Sanz| first =Christian; Forte, Carlos| title =Aldo Ducler, el narcolavador socio de Capitanich y los Kirchner| work =Periodico Tribuna| date =Jan 29, 2014| url =http://periodicotribuna.com.ar/14998-aldo-ducler-el-narcolavador-socio-de-capitanich-y-los-kirchner.html}}</ref> Capitanich held the position of Cabinet Chief until May 2002.
He retained his Senate seat, and supported President [[Néstor Kirchner]]'s [[Front for Victory]]. In 2003 he stood to be governor of Chaco, but was defeated by [[Roy Nikisch]] of the [[Radical Civic Union]].
He retained his Senate seat, and supported President [[Néstor Kirchner]]'s [[Front for Victory]]. In 2003 he stood to be governor of Chaco, but was defeated by [[Roy Nikisch]] of the [[Radical Civic Union]].


===Governor===
===Governor===
In the 2007 provincial elections, Capitanich ran as a candidate for governor for the Frente Chaco Deserves More, an alliance of several parties with the majority weight of the Justicialist Party. On 16, 2007, he was elected governor of the Province of Chaco, defeating the candidate of the ruling party and former governor Ángel Rozas, belonging to the Radical Civic Union, against the initial estimates of the polls. In 2008 he received recognition from the Konex Awards for his career as a legislator in the "Institutions - Community - Company" category.8
On 12 September 2007, he stepped down from the senate to be elected Governor of Chaco on 16 September 2007, taking office on December 10.<ref name="Montenegrina">{{Cite web|url=http://www.montenegrina.net/pages/pages1/dijaspora/guverner_argentinske_provincije_chaco.htm|title=MONTENEGRINA - digitalna biblioteka crnogorske kulture i nasljedja|website=www.montenegrina.net}}</ref> In that election, he defeated former governor [[Ángel Rozas]] by a margin of just 0.8% of the vote.<ref name="Clarin">{{Cite web|url=https://www.clarin.com/ediciones-anteriores/chaco-jorge-capitanich-impuso-08-proclamo-gobernador_0_rkiWn5Jy0Yg.html|title=Chaco: Jorge Capitanich se impuso por menos del 0,8% y se proclamó gobernador|date=September 16, 2007|website=www.clarin.com}}</ref> Capitanich was the first Argentine of Montenegrin origin to hold the Governor's post in any province.


In the elections of September 18, 2011, he obtained his re-election as governor by obtaining more than 66% of the votes.
While he was governor of Chaco, Capitanich appointed his wife, Sandra Mendoza, to be provincial Minister of Health. Her handling of a [[2009 dengue epidemic]] in the province was criticized because she used expired pesticides on the mosquitoes. Capitanich asked her to resign, in response to which she “jumped into her Toyota truck and proceeded to use it as a battering ram, destroying six parked cars and an entire section of the government building’s wall.” She then campaigned successfully to represent Chaco in Congress, and led a protest outside the statehouse in which 30 people were detained. She filed for divorce shortly thereafter.<ref name=bub/>


In his 2013 session opening speech, Capitanich listed the achievements of his management, among which are: the province's cumulative growth rate in the 2003-2011 period was 78.5% and 38% if you consider the period 2009–2013. There was a reduction in provincial debt and growth in formal private employment.
In May 2013, Capitanich's vice governor, [[Juan Carlos Bacileff Ivanoff]], accused him of doing nothing to combat drug trafficking. Bacileff said that Capitanich had lost control of the province and described it as being in a state of “anarchy.” One report noted that the province is located “near the smuggling hub of the Triple Frontier, which is a major transit point for drugs smuggled out of [[Paraguay]] and into Argentina,” and that the [[Sinaloa Cartel]] allegedly produces and distributes synthetic drugs in the province. Members of the opposition Radical Civil Union Party (UCR) filed a petition to investigate Bacileff's charges.<ref>{{cite web| last =Bargent| first =James| title =Drug Trade "Anarchy" in Argentina Border State Sparks Controversy | work =Insight Crime| date =May 15, 2013| url =http://www.insightcrime.org/news-briefs/argentina-drug-trafficking-corruption-chaco}}</ref>


In the area of education, illiteracy fell from 8.8 to 5.4%. In terms of educational infrastructure, 12 schools were built, expanded and refurbished for more than 6,000 students, at different levels.
====Shared dreams====
In 2010, while he was Governor of Chaco province, Capitanich was questioned about his management of the Madres de Plaza de Mayo Foundation's Sueños Compartidos (Shared Dreams) housing construction program. He was accused of involvement in various irregularities, including overpricing and substandard construction.<ref name=lanac1/> In February 2014, Capitanich dismissed a General Audit Office (AGN) report stating that nearly 150 million pesos had been diverted from the “Shared Dreams” program during his tenure as governor and paid to corporations that had no connection with housing construction. Capitanich denied any irregularities and called the GAO a “tool” of the political opposition whose objective was to “attack the government.”<ref>{{cite news| title =Jorge Capitanich defendió el plan Sueños Compartidos de Sergio Schoklender y Hebe de Bonafini| work =[[La Nación]]| date =Feb 13, 2014| url =http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1663729-jorge-capitanich-defendio-el-plan-suenos-compartidos-de-sergio-schoklender-y-hebe-de-bonafin}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title =Capitanich defendió a Schoklender y Bonafini ante las denuncias de corrupción| work =Clarin| date =Feb 13, 2014| url =http://www.clarin.com/politica/Capitanich-Schoklender-Bonafini-denuncias-corrupcion_0_1084091845.html}}</ref>


As far as health is concerned, during his government 25 new hospitals were inaugurated, a historical record for the province. Infant mortality went from 20.9 per thousand to 14.4 per thousand in 2011.
===Cabinet chief===
President [[Cristina Fernández de Kirchner]] appointed Capitanich Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers on 20 November 2013.


In the period 2008–2015, the number of routes built will be equivalent to 430&nbsp;km. During his government, the work of the collector on National Route 16 was completed, which required an investment of more than 259 million pesos and which included the construction of embankments. and shoulders. Also, the first section of the highway that connects Resistencia with Makallé, which required an investment of 160 million pesos and works on provincial route No. 13 with an investment of almost 539 million pesos.
Capitanich and his predecessors as Cabinet Chief, [[Juan Manuel Abal Medina]] and [[Aníbal Fernández]], were charged by the federal prosecutor in 2014 in connection with suspected abuse of federal funds in the “Fútbol para Todos” program.<ref name=arg>{{cite web| title =Police Raid Football Clubs Over Corruption Claims| work =Argentina Independent| date =Nov 19, 2014| url =http://www.argentinaindependent.com/currentaffairs/newsfromargentina/police-raid-football-clubs-over-corruption-claims/}}</ref>


In addition, the works of the "Néstor Kirchner" Sports Complex, a Community Integration Center (CIC), a health module, the new micro-stadium of the Fontana Social and Sports Club, and housing for the Tobas were carried out.
It was reported on August 19, 2014, that Elliott Management, Argentina's leading holdout creditor, planned to subpoena companies tied to Kirchner businessmen [[Lázaro Báez]] and [[Cristóbal López (businessman)|Cristóbal López]] in order to identify and seize improperly diverted public assets and to focus a spotlight on the corruption of the Kirchner government. Elliott's lawyer Robert Cohen stated that the investigation would not only benefit Elliott but would also have “the added advantage of exposing corruption in Argentina.” In response to this development, Capitanich harshly criticized Elliott and another holdout firm, Aurelius, calling them “small, voracious interests that form a real international mafia.”<ref name=fin>{{cite web| title =Elliott Casts Wide Net For Argentine 'Corruption'| work =FIN Alternatives| date =Aug 19, 2014| url =http://www.finalternatives.com/node/28019}}</ref>


⚫
==Controversies==
Capitanich and Foreign Minister [[Hector Timerman]] both harshly criticized [[Germany]] in September 2014. Capitanich accused Germany of having a “hostile attitude” toward Argentina and of showing “favoritism” toward the “vulture funds,” i.e. Argentina's holdout creditors.<ref ?>{{cite web| title =Gov't fires back at ATFA, Germany's Finance Minister over debt battle| work =Buenos Aires Herald| date =Sep 24, 2014| url =http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/170564/govt-fires-back-at-atfa-germanys-finance-minister-over-debt-battle}}</ref>
In November 2013, ''[[La Nación]]'' described Capitanich's career as being "punctuated by harsh allegations of corruption."<ref name=lanac1>{{cite news| title =Dos denuncias de corrupción que salpicaron a Jorge Capitanich| work =[[La Nación]]| date =Nov 21, 2013| url =http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1640309-dos-denuncias-de-corrupcion-que-salpicaron-a-jorge-capitanich}}</ref>


⚫
While Capitanich was working in the government of Chaco province, his office allegedly “funneled money to the media through third parties, and left hefty sums on the road by way of unnecessary fees and unnecessary middlemen,” according to charges leveled by Deputy Carlos Ullrich.<ref name=baja/> Capitanich also reportedly misdirected funds belonging to Santa Cruz province in a matter involving oil royalties.<ref name=perf>{{cite web| last =Leuco| first =Alfredo| title =El socio de Coqui| work =Perfil| date =Nov 29, 2013| url =http://www.perfil.com/columnistas/El-socio-de-Coqui-20131129-0064.html}}</ref>
In September 2014, commenting on the U.S. role in Argentina's debt conflict, Capitanich compared the United States to an adult who rapes his own child. Eduardo Amadeo, former Argentinian Ambassador to the U.S., said that Capitanich's “vulgarity” was a sign of “a weak government” that was courting conflict with the U.S. “to cover its internal failure.”<ref>{{cite web| title =Jorge Capitanich y una comparación desafortunada entre Estados Unidos y una "persona grandota que viola a una hija"| work =[[La Nación]]| date =Sep 29, 2014| url =http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1731292-jorge-capitanich-y-una-comparacion-desafortunada-entre-estados-unidos-y-una-persona-grandota-que-viola-a-una-hija}}</ref>

Kevin Sullivan, the chargé d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires, told ''Clarin'' in September 2014 that it was “important for Argentina to exit default as soon as possible to return to the path of growth and attract the investment it needs.” In response, Capitanich, reflecting the official Argentinian view that the country was not in default, called Sullivan's remarks “incorrect, unfortunate, and inappropriate” and said that they “constitute undue interference in the country's sovereignty.”<ref>{{cite web| title =Argentina summons US diplomat over default comments| work =Yahoo| date =Sep 16, 2014| url =https://news.yahoo.com/argentina-summons-us-diplomat-over-default-comments-214012081.html}}</ref>

At a news conference in January 2015, Capitanich rejected charges by prosecutor [[Alberto Nisman]] that the government had covered up a probe into the 1994 terrorist attack on a Jewish center in Buenos Aires. Capitanich called the charges part of an international conspiracy against Argentina.<ref>{{cite web| last =Turner| first =Taos| title =Argentina's Jews Reel From New Twist in Terror Probe| work =The Wall Street Journal| date =Jan 15, 2015| url =https://www.wsj.com/articles/argentinas-jews-reel-from-new-twist-in-terror-probe-1421373119}}</ref>

On February 3, 2015, Capitanich ripped up a copy of the newspaper ''Clarin'' during a televised press conference, claiming that a report in the newspaper was completely false. The report stated that a draft warrant for the arrest of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner had been found after the January 18 death of Prosector Alberto Nisman. “The battle between the Kirchners and ''Clarin'' goes back years, but Capitanich's actions ripping up a newspaper report were a new low for the government,” maintained one commentator. “A cabinet member destroying a newspaper was an implicit threat against a top opposition media outlet.” Hours after Capitanich's press conference, prosecutor Viviana Fein confirmed that the document existed and Clarin published photos of it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/documentos-confirman-nisman-arresto-cristina_0_r1_r7rcDQe.html|title=Documentos confirman que Nisman pensó en pedir el arresto de Cristina|first=Nicolás|last=Wiñazki|date=February 3, 2015|website=www.clarin.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/nisman-cristina-denuncia_original-amia_0_HJfZSH5w7g.html|title=Nisman habría pensado en pedir la detención de Cristina|first=Daniel|last=Santoro|date=February 1, 2015|website=www.clarin.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/jorge-capitanich-rompio-paginas-clarin-gesto-peligroso_0_SyLOmr5PQx.html|title=Gesto peligroso: Capitanich rompió páginas de Clarín|first=Alberto|last=Amato|date=February 3, 2015|website=www.clarin.com}}</ref>

Capitanich was dismissed as Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers on February 26, 2015.

On February 26, 2015, Capitanich announced his intention to run for mayor of Resistencia.<ref>{{cite web| title =Cristina desplazó a Jorge Capitanich de la Jefatura de Gabinete y designó a Aníbal Fernández; entra al Gobierno el camporista Eduardo "Wado" de Pedro| work =[[La Nación]]| date =Feb 26, 2015| url =http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1771612-cristina-desplazo-a-jorge-capitanich-de-la-jefatura-de-gabinete-y-designo-a-anibal-fernandez-entra-al-gobierno-el-camporista-wado-de-pedro}}</ref> The next day he resumed the post of Governor of Chaco province, which fell to him automatically.<ref>{{cite web| title =Jorge Capitanich reasumió en Chaco: echó a todos los ministros y suspendió la campaña electoral del peronismo| work =[[La Nación]]| date =Feb 27, 2015| url =http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1771965-jorge-capitanich-reasumio-en-chaco-echo-a-todos-los-ministros-y-suspendio-la-campana-electoral-del-peronismo}}</ref>

⚫
==Controversies==
⚫
While Capitanich was working in the government of Chaco province, his office allegedly “funneled money to the media through third parties, and left hefty sums on the road by way of unnecessary fees and unnecessary middlemen,” according to charges leveled by Deputy Carlos Ullrich.<ref name=baja/> Capitanich also reportedly misdirected funds belonging to Santa Cruz province in a matter involving oil royalties.<ref name=perf/>


The newspaper ''Norte'' reported in May 2002 that Capitanich had been involved in irregularities involving an offshore bank. Capitanich was also accused of tax avoidance in connection with his ownership or part ownership of a Buenos Aires-based firm called Agronea SA. In addition, he supposedly arranged “special pensions” for his parents<ref name=baja/> and, in August 2009, while serving as Governor of Chaco, falsely registered his mother, Mirca Popovich, as a resident of the province in order to avoid having to pay for 30,000 pesos' worth of medical treatment, an action that violated laws against forgery, registration of a false address, and other crimes. When this offense was discovered and reported, Capitanich threatened to sue the newspaper that reported it, but he then held a press conference at which he admitted to having committed the offense and promised to pay for the medical treatment. Critics regarded his actions as particularly heinous given that Chaco is a very poor province while Capitanich was prosperous enough to afford to spend 300,000 pesos on his daughter's fifteenth birthday.<ref>{{cite web| title =Jorge Capitanich confesó ser un corrupto| work =Avisora| url =http://www.avizora.com/atajo/informes/argentina_textos/provincias/chaco/0008_capitanich_confiesa_ser_un_corrupto.htm}}</ref>
The newspaper ''Norte'' reported in May 2002 that Capitanich had been involved in irregularities involving an offshore bank. Capitanich was also accused of tax avoidance in connection with his ownership or part ownership of a Buenos Aires-based firm called Agronea SA. In addition, he supposedly arranged “special pensions” for his parents<ref name=baja/> and, in August 2009, while serving as Governor of Chaco, falsely registered his mother, Mirca Popovich, as a resident of the province in order to avoid having to pay for 30,000 pesos' worth of medical treatment, an action that violated laws against forgery, registration of a false address, and other crimes. When this offense was discovered and reported, Capitanich threatened to sue the newspaper that reported it, but he then held a press conference at which he admitted to having committed the offense and promised to pay for the medical treatment. Critics regarded his actions as particularly heinous given that Chaco is a very poor province while Capitanich was prosperous enough to afford to spend 300,000 pesos on his daughter's fifteenth birthday.<ref>{{cite web| title =Jorge Capitanich confesó ser un corrupto| work =Avisora| url =http://www.avizora.com/atajo/informes/argentina_textos/provincias/chaco/0008_capitanich_confiesa_ser_un_corrupto.htm}}</ref>
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{{Argentine national senators, 2001–2003}}
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[[Category:Argentine Ministers of Finance]]
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[[Category:Argentine people of Montenegrin descent]]
[[Category:Argentine people of Montenegrin descent]]
[[Category:Argentine people of Serbian descent]]
[[Category:Argentine Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Chiefs of Cabinet of Ministers of Argentina]]
[[Category:Chiefs of Cabinet of Ministers of Argentina]]
[[Category:Governors of Chaco Province]]
[[Category:Governors of Chaco Province]]
[[Category:Justicialist Party politicians]]
[[Category:Justicialist Party politicians]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the Argentine Senate]]
[[Category:Members of the Argentine Senate for Chaco]]
[[Category:Mayors of Resistencia, Chaco]]
[[Category:National University of the Northeast alumni]]
[[Category:National University of the Northeast alumni]]
[[Category:People from Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña]]
[[Category:People from Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña]]

Latest revision as of 07:14, 2 December 2024

Jorge Capitanich
Governor of Chaco
In office
10 December 2019 – 10 December 2023
Vice GovernorAnalía Rach Quiroga
Preceded byDomingo Peppo
Succeeded byLeandro Zdero
In office
10 December 2007 – 10 December 2015
On leave: 20 November 2013 – 27 February 2015
Vice GovernorJuan Carlos Bacileff Ivanoff
Preceded byRoy Nikisch
Succeeded byDomingo Peppo
Mayor of Resistencia
In office
10 December 2015 – 10 December 2019
Preceded byAída Ayala
Succeeded byGustavo Martínez
Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers
In office
20 November 2013 – 26 February 2015
PresidentCristina Fernández de Kirchner
Preceded byJuan Manuel Abal Medina
Succeeded byAníbal Fernández
In office
2 January 2002 – 3 May 2002
PresidentEduardo Duhalde
Preceded byAntonio Cafiero
Succeeded byAlfredo Atanasof
National Senator
In office
10 December 2001 – 10 December 2007
ConstituencyChaco
Minister of Economy, Social Development, Labour and Health
In office
21 December 2001 – 23 December 2007
PresidentRamón Puerta
Preceded byDomingo Cavallo (as Minister of Economy)
Succeeded byRodolfo Frigeri (as Secretary of the Treasury)
Personal details
Born (1964-11-28) 28 November 1964 (age 60)
Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña, Argentina
Political partyJusticialist Party
Alma materNational University of the Northeast
University of Belgrano
University of San Andrés

Jorge Milton Capitanich (born November 28, 1964) is an Argentine politician, businessman, and accountant. He served as Governor of Chaco Province from 2007 to 2013, from February to December 2015, and later from 2019 to 2023. A member of the Justicialist Party, he previously served as Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers from 2013 until 2015, serving under President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, as intendente (mayor) of Chaco's capital city, Resistencia, and as National Senator, representing Chaco as well. Since 2007 he has also been president of the Club Atlético Sarmiento.

Early life and education

[edit]

Capitanich (originally Kapitanić) descends from the first Montenegrins who settled in Chaco and created Colonia La Montenegrina, the biggest Montenegrin colony in South America. He was born in Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña, the son of Daniel Capitanich and Mirca Popovich, who owned a small farm.[1] The family hails from Banjani.[2]

He attended the National University of the Northeast, graduating with a degree in accountancy in 1988. He earned a post-graduate degree in public administration from the University of Belgrano in 1991, and taught in his discipline. In 1999 he obtained a master's degree in Economics and Political Science at the School of Economics and Business Administration.[3]

Career

[edit]

Early political career

[edit]

Capitanich took up his first position in politics in 1987, serving as private secretary to the Governor of Chaco province, Danilo Baroni,[4]

Capitanich thereafter experienced a quick rise through the government ranks. In 1994 he was named coordinator of a private-sector jobs-creation program in the Ministry of Assistance for the Reform of the Provincial Economy. The next year he became assistant secretary for technical-administrative coordination in the Ministry of Social Development. In 1998, he was appointed assistant secretary of social projects in the Ministry of Social Development. And in 2001, he was named Minister of Infrastructure.[1][5]

Senate

[edit]

Capitanich was elected Senator for Chaco in October 2001, and named Argentina's interim Minister of Economy of Argentina during the institutional crisis of December 21 of that year, serving for two days in the post. President Eduardo Duhalde appointed Capitanich Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers on January 2, 2002.[3] While in that position under Duhalde, Capitanich was involved in the consulting firm M-Unit, for which he was accused of arranging covert government financing.[1] He worked at M-Unit with Economy Minister Axel Kicillof, with whom he collaborated on a book.[6] Capitanich held the position of Cabinet Chief until May 2002.

He retained his Senate seat, and supported President Néstor Kirchner's Front for Victory. In 2003 he stood to be governor of Chaco, but was defeated by Roy Nikisch of the Radical Civic Union.

Governor

[edit]

In the 2007 provincial elections, Capitanich ran as a candidate for governor for the Frente Chaco Deserves More, an alliance of several parties with the majority weight of the Justicialist Party. On 16, 2007, he was elected governor of the Province of Chaco, defeating the candidate of the ruling party and former governor Ángel Rozas, belonging to the Radical Civic Union, against the initial estimates of the polls. In 2008 he received recognition from the Konex Awards for his career as a legislator in the "Institutions - Community - Company" category.8

In the elections of September 18, 2011, he obtained his re-election as governor by obtaining more than 66% of the votes.

In his 2013 session opening speech, Capitanich listed the achievements of his management, among which are: the province's cumulative growth rate in the 2003-2011 period was 78.5% and 38% if you consider the period 2009–2013. There was a reduction in provincial debt and growth in formal private employment.

In the area of education, illiteracy fell from 8.8 to 5.4%. In terms of educational infrastructure, 12 schools were built, expanded and refurbished for more than 6,000 students, at different levels.

As far as health is concerned, during his government 25 new hospitals were inaugurated, a historical record for the province. Infant mortality went from 20.9 per thousand to 14.4 per thousand in 2011.

In the period 2008–2015, the number of routes built will be equivalent to 430 km. During his government, the work of the collector on National Route 16 was completed, which required an investment of more than 259 million pesos and which included the construction of embankments. and shoulders. Also, the first section of the highway that connects Resistencia with Makallé, which required an investment of 160 million pesos and works on provincial route No. 13 with an investment of almost 539 million pesos.

In addition, the works of the "Néstor Kirchner" Sports Complex, a Community Integration Center (CIC), a health module, the new micro-stadium of the Fontana Social and Sports Club, and housing for the Tobas were carried out.

Controversies

[edit]

In November 2013, La Nación described Capitanich's career as being "punctuated by harsh allegations of corruption."[7]

While Capitanich was working in the government of Chaco province, his office allegedly “funneled money to the media through third parties, and left hefty sums on the road by way of unnecessary fees and unnecessary middlemen,” according to charges leveled by Deputy Carlos Ullrich.[1] Capitanich also reportedly misdirected funds belonging to Santa Cruz province in a matter involving oil royalties.[8]

The newspaper Norte reported in May 2002 that Capitanich had been involved in irregularities involving an offshore bank. Capitanich was also accused of tax avoidance in connection with his ownership or part ownership of a Buenos Aires-based firm called Agronea SA. In addition, he supposedly arranged “special pensions” for his parents[1] and, in August 2009, while serving as Governor of Chaco, falsely registered his mother, Mirca Popovich, as a resident of the province in order to avoid having to pay for 30,000 pesos' worth of medical treatment, an action that violated laws against forgery, registration of a false address, and other crimes. When this offense was discovered and reported, Capitanich threatened to sue the newspaper that reported it, but he then held a press conference at which he admitted to having committed the offense and promised to pay for the medical treatment. Critics regarded his actions as particularly heinous given that Chaco is a very poor province while Capitanich was prosperous enough to afford to spend 300,000 pesos on his daughter's fifteenth birthday.[9]

Honors and awards

[edit]

In 1997 Capitanich received the Annual ADEBA (Association of Argentine Banks) Award for efficiency in social spending.[10]

In 2008 he was given a Konex Award in recognition of his career as a senator.

Personal life

[edit]

Capitanich and Sandra Mendoza have two daughters together.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "ARGENTINA, CHACO: ¿QUIEN ES JORGE MILTON CAPITANICH POPOVICH?". Bajando Lineas. Jun 25, 2012. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02.
  2. ^ "Metropolitan Amfilohije meets with Jorge Capitanich, Governor of the province of Chaco". SPC. Archived from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
  3. ^ a b "Bendición presidencial para Capitanich: triple mal trago para Gildo Insfrán". Misiones para Todos. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-12.
  4. ^ a b "Quién es quién en el nuevo gabinete". La Nación. Nov 19, 2013. Archived from the original on January 20, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  5. ^ Beaudette, Noah (Dec 20, 2013). "If Capitanich Wants to be President, He Needs a (Non) Crazy Ex-wife". The Bubble.
  6. ^ Sanz, Christian; Forte, Carlos (Jan 29, 2014). "Aldo Ducler, el narcolavador socio de Capitanich y los Kirchner". Periodico Tribuna.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Dos denuncias de corrupción que salpicaron a Jorge Capitanich". La Nación. Nov 21, 2013.
  8. ^ Leuco, Alfredo (Nov 29, 2013). "El socio de Coqui". Perfil.
  9. ^ "Jorge Capitanich confesó ser un corrupto". Avisora.
  10. ^ "actividades premio adeba". ADEBA.
[edit]
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Economy
Acting
2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers
2002 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Chaco
2007–2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers
2013–2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Chaco
2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Mayor of Resistencia
2015–2019 		Succeeded by
Gustavo Martínez
Preceded by Governor of Chaco
2019–2023 		Succeeded by
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