Aaah....its good to be back after a break, after researching i want to dig deeper into the "Cono Sur" Lore, i guess you are asking "What the hell is Menemismo?" Well...

Carlos Saul Menem (1930-2021) was born in the Province of La Rioja the 2 of July of 1930 into a Syrian Inmigrant family, in fact Menem was raised Muslim and considererd himself one until he officially converted to Catholicism in 1983.

A political chamaleon Menem was active in Politics in La Rioja since the early 1960s active in Peronist circles, he was a well know personalist in his campaign drawing similarities within him and the Caudillo Facundo Quiroga (1788-1835) who led La Rioja during the Argentine Civil Wars, he was elected Governor of La Rioja in 1973 in the mist of the "Third Peronism" (1973-1976) an era marked by inestabilty and the start of state terrorism against Left-Wing Groups. When the 1976 Coup exploded Menem was deposed of his position as governor and was arrested, he spend 2 years in jail before he was freed in 1978 and settled in Mar del Plata, he maked friendship with celebrities in that era.

After Democracy Menem returned to Governor from 1983 until 1989, he became fastly a leader of his own in the Justicialist Party with an Anti-Imperialist voice, in 1989 he defetated Buenos Aires Governor Antonio Cafiero in the Primary positioniting himself as a Populist leader.

Menem faced off against Eduardo Angeloz the Radical Civic Union Candidate (The Radicals were the goverment party at the time led by Raul Alfonsin), Angeloz was a promiment Anti-Peronist, leader of the Neoliberal wing of he UCR. Menem ran a populist campaign, he claimed he will implement a "productive revolution" and a "salariazo" (High Salary increase) while appealing to the religious vote citing the bible in speeches. He won with 48,50%, in a country in the mist of his highest inflation ever due to the failure of the "Plan Austral".....and after this is when our history begins...

Soon after taking office Menem implement several neoliberal policies, like convertibility (1 Argentine Peso was the Same Value as 1 US Dollar), the privatization of companies, economic liberation, deregulation, reducing quotas, tariffs and import prohibitions.

Policies that was contradicted mainly by the national-popular sectors of Peronism that branded Menem as a "traitor". In 1991 Economist Domingo Cavallo was appointed as Economy Minister, Cavallo is seen as the man behind convertivilty, by 1992 the policies were a sucess, inflation had decreased to stable levels and Argentina had a highest life quality than Greece.

Menem also showed a massive charisma on media, he drove ferraris, took part in rallies and was invited to comedy programs.

In those years Menem alligned himself soon to the USA, he supporter the Gulf War and send troupes to the 1994 Intervention in Haiti.

But behind this glamous of economic revival....a lot of shady stuff happened

• Argentina Was Selling Arms to Croatia illegally in the Context of the Yugoslav Wars

• Anti-Regulation Politicies led to a unprising in the Province of Santiago del Esetereo after funcionaries were sacked, the congress and politicians houses were burned.

• With the Start of the Cenepa War in 1995 Between Peru and Ecuador, Argentina illegally sold arms to Ecuador

• In March of 1992 the Israel Embassy suffered an attack in Argentina with over 22 deaths, the attack atribuited (Altought not 100% Confirmed) to Hezbollah happened due to the support of Argentina to the Gulf War.

• In July of 1994 the "Israeli Mutual Asociation in Argentina" building also suffered a similar attack with over 85 deaths

• In November of 1995 in the town Río Tercero (Cordoba-Argentina) a Factory with ties to the arm traficking scandal was blowed up causing 7 deaths.

• Menem's son Carlos Menem Jr. died misteriously in 1995 in a helicopter crash.

• After Menem was re-elected for the 1995-1999 period the economy starten to worsen wich would ventually led to explode with him out of office in December of 2001.

• Menem allegeldy had an affair with Politician Maria Julia Alsogaray who was latter found to be involved in several financial crimes in 2004.

• Menem infamously freed members of the 1976-1983 Military Junta accused of Crimes Against Humanity in 1992 (Ironically Menem was deposed as governor in the 70s by the same guys), the members were later put on jail after trials in the 2000s (In his defence tought Menem did also freed members of the Far-Left Montoneros and ERP so he basically played double chess there)

• Infamously Condecorated Pinochet (Yeah Pinochet was technically still the head of the Army of Chile even after leaving in 1990 but still)

• Corruption skyrocketed in that era, a extremely schoking crime was the Murder of Photographer Jose Luis Cabezas in 1997 after photographing the gangster Afredo Yabran who latter killed himself.

Menem kept a loud post-presidency, he married 1987 Miss Universe Chilean Cecilia Bolocco (Menem had divorced his 1st wife in 1995 while he was president) and fathered a son with her in 2003, they divorced in 2007, he ran for President that same year, he scored 24% in the first round finishing 1st forcing him and Nestor Kirchner (Of a Left-Wing, Socialism of the 21st Century inspired brand of Peronism) who scored 22% to go on second round, Menem dropped after polls gave him bad results

He was elected to the National Senate of Argentina in 2007, remained there until his death at 90 the 14th of February of 2021, Menem was condemed for multiple corruption and arms traficking scandals in the 2010s but his senatorial role maked him basically untouchable as Senators in Argentina cannot go to Jail....

To this day the Menem family has power in Argentina, relatives like Martin Menem a nephew currently serves as president of the chamber of Deputies......

Soo....yeeah the Argentine goverment in the 90s was something else....

WHO IM RPING AS?:

You are a young upcoming Journalist (Gengre as you wish) in the Buenos Aires independent scene, you are asigned to investigate several profiles asigned to you and to interview, but be fully aware.....POLITICS....ARE....NOT....FROM....EVERIBODY.....

What Parties Existed in 1990s Argentina:

• Justicialist Party (Peronism, Menemism, Neoliberalism, Conservatism) (Centre-Right - Factions with Centre-Left, Left and Right)

• Radical Civic Union (Radicalism, Social Democracy, Developmentism) (Centre-Left - Factions with Centre and Centre-Right)

• Broad Front (Radicalism, Peronism, Progressivism) (Centre-Left to Left) (Merged as FREPASO in 1995)

• Movement for Dignity and Independent (Neo-Fascism, Catholic Nationalism, Militarism) (Far-Right)

• Union of the Democratic Centre (Economic Liberalism, Liberalism) (Centre-Right to Right)

• Socialist Unity (Social Democracy, Syndicalism, Democratic Socialism) (Left)

• Republican Force (Militarism, Conservatism, Authoritarianism) (Right to Far-Right)

• Democratic Progressive Party (Centrism, Liberalism, Progressivism) (Centre)

• (Both the Radicals and Broads alongside other parties merged as the "Alliance" in 1997)

So Good Luck, you can enjoy some pumper nicks (Argentina 90s McDonalds), Mate, Empanadas, Asado, Facturas etc.

WARNING!: Sexism (A Lot actually, Argentina society had a still massive machismo, for us to be aware for example in November of 1992 dentist Ricardo Barreda killed his wife, mother-in law and 2 daughers allegeldy stating they "humilliated him" (Altought no significant proof was ever proved of this one)

They basically around that time a song was launched praising him for it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCHPIrwoKhw

Racism (Not much as Argentina isnt really diverse, like i mean, of course there are diferences between provinces culturally, but most Argentinians share similar values but classism and xenophobia in some aspects of society was common, Infamously once an ambassador asked Menem about the afro-argentine minority and he sayed “There are no blacks in Argentina; Brazil has that problem

Kleptocracy: Duh is the main point, but if you like to workship politicians or do you hate corruption warning

Violence: Police brutality was big at the time, infamously in 1992 a Chess Player Saúl Canessa died due to police violence on him. Youth violence was also common, in fact the Argentina draft had to be abolished in 1994 after the scandal of the death of soldier Omar Carrasco by other soldiers.

ENJOY THIS RPG GUYS :)