Roberto Basualdo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| National Senator | |
| In office 10 December 2005 – 10 December 2023 | |
| Constituency | San Juan |
| National Deputy | |
| In office 2001–2005 | |
| Constituency | San Juan |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | Argentine |
| Political party | Production and Labour (since 2015) Justicialist Party (until 2015) |
| Profession | Businessman |
Roberto Gustavo Basualdo (b. 1957[1]) is anArgentine politician, formerly of theJusticialist Party (PJ), now inCambiemos. He sat in theArgentine Senate representingSan Juan Province (Argentina) for theProduction and Labour party from 2005 to 2023.
In 1976, Basualdo began a motor racing career, competing in theCuyo district and gaining five championships.[1] In 1990 he and his father started a company,Roberto Basualdo S.A., which sells perfumes and cleaning products. He became involved in politics as a Justicialist in 1993, standing as running mate toOlga Riutort in the 1995 election for governor.[1] In 1999, he stood for the mayoralty ofSan Juan and in 2001 he was elected anational deputy.[1]
Basualdo is a dissidentPeronist opposed to the mainstream of his party in the province but is closer to the national leadership of the PJ. He set up his own party, the Life and Commitment Movement. In 2003, he stood for the governorship of San Juan, losing to the JusticialistJosé Luis Gioja by 41.5% to 30.8%, with incumbent governorWbaldino Acosta third with 19%. He backedAdolfo Rodríguez Saá for the presidency in that year.[2]
He was elected to the Senate in 2005. In the Senate he sits in his own block, rather than the rulingFront for Victory, although he supported the election of PresidentCristina Fernández de Kirchner. In recent years, his party has leached support back to the mainstream of the PJ.[3] In 2007 he stood once again against Gioja for the governorship, heading theFront for Change. He made opposition ofopencast mining a key element of his campaign.[4]
From 2007, Basualdo was the second vice-president of the Senate, coordinating the senators from smaller parties from the interior of the country.[5]