Argentina's Politics: Blood, Sweat, and Tears

In 1994, an attack on a prominent Jewish community center in Buenos Aires left 85 people dead. Over the last decade, Alberto Nisman, one of Argentina’s best known prosecutors, conducted an investigation of the car bombing, the deadliest anti-Semitic attack since World War II and the worst terrorist attack in Argentina’s history. Nisman concluded that officials in the Iranian and Argentine governments, including President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, concealed the origins of the attack in exchange for economic favors. The day before he was scheduled to present these accusations before Congress, Nisman was found dead, the victim of a suspicious apparent suicide.

After the elections this fall, the incoming Argentine president will confront both substantial political corruption and protracted economic turmoil. Facing an economy in decline—April marked the 21st consecutive month of negative industrial production—and still suffering from a slump in foreign investment after the failure to make debt payments to American interest holders and creditors, the president will have a long way to go to get the nation back on track.

Hudson Institute’s Center for Latin American Studies and B’nai B’rith International hosted Hector Schamis, Gustavo Perednik, and Rut Diamint for a discussion about the political and economic challenges facing Argentina. Dan Mariaschin, Executive Vice President of B'nai B'rith International, gave opening remarks and Hudson Senior Fellow Christopher Sands moderated the conversation.

Hudson Institute thanks B'nai B'rith International for supporting this event.