Jorge Rafael Videla

Jorge Rafael Videla Redondo (born August 2, 1925 in Mercedes) was the de facto President of Argentina from 1976 to 1981. He came to power in a coup d'état that deposed Isabel Martínez de Perón. After the return to democracy, he was placed on house arrest.

Later years

Videla relinquished power to Roberto Eduardo Viola on March 29, 1981.

Related Topics:
Roberto Eduardo Viola - March 29 - 1981

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Democracy was restored in 1983, and Videla was put into trial and declared guilty. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and was destituted from the military on 1985. The tribunal found Videla guilty of numerous homicides, kidnapping, torture, and many other crimes.

Related Topics:
1983 - 1985

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Videla was imprisoned for only five years. In 1990, President Carlos Menem pardoned Videla together with many other former members of the military regime. Menem cited the necessity to get over past conflicts as his main reason.

Related Topics:
1990 - Carlos Menem - Pardon

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Videla briefly returned to prison in 1998 when a judge found him guilty of kidnapping of minors during the Dirty War. Videla spent 38 days in the Caseros jail, and was later transferred to house arrest due to health issues.

Related Topics:
1998 - Dirty War

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Following the election of President Nestor Kirchner in 2002, there has been a widespread effort in Argentina to show the illegality of Videla's rule. The government no longer recognizes Videla as having been a legal president of the country, and his portrait has been removed from all halls and archives. There have also been many legal persecutions of officials associated with the crimes of the regime.

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