Illia, Arturo

Illia, Arturo (ärtOO'rō ēl'yä) [key], 1900–1983, president of Argentina (1963–66). A country physician, he entered politics after 1930, and from 1948 to 1952 he was one of the few non-Perónist representatives in the national legislature. He was elected president in 1963, but with only 25% of the vote; he was unable to deal effectively with the country's deteriorating economy and the political problems created by the followers of deposed Juan Perón. Illia canceled Argentina's petroleum contracts with foreign companies, a move that, while popular, soon destroyed the country's virtual self-sufficiency in oil. After the Perónists made gains in the 1966 elections, alarmed military leaders deposed Illia and replaced him with Gen. Juan Onganía.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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