Aldo Rico, Argentinian commander and politician
Aldo Rico, born on March 4, 1943, is a prominent figure in Argentina's recent history, known both as a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the military and a politician who significantly impacted the nation's political landscape during a tumultuous era.
Military Rebellions: The Carapintadas Uprisings
Rico gained widespread notoriety for his central involvement in two significant military revolts against the democratic government of President Raúl Alfonsín in the late 1980s. These challenging times for Argentina, following the return to democracy after a period of military dictatorship, saw sectors of the Armed Forces expressing deep discontent with government policies regarding military accountability for past human rights abuses. The first, and perhaps most famous, was the 1987 uprising, often remembered as "Semana Santa" or Easter Week. During this period, military units, identifying as "carapintadas"—a term meaning "painted faces" due to their facial camouflage—defied presidential authority. These revolts were a stark challenge to the young democracy, aiming to protest policies that sought to prosecute military officers for crimes committed under the previous military junta. A second major mutiny, also led by Rico, occurred in 1988, known as the "Monte Caseros" uprising. Both incidents underscored the fragility of Argentina's democratic institutions and the deep divisions within the armed forces regarding their role and past actions. Rico emerged as a symbolic leader for these dissident factions.
From Military Defiance to Political Arena
Following his military controversies, Aldo Rico transitioned into the political sphere, founding the MODIN political party (Movimiento por la Dignidad Nacional, or Movement for National Dignity). Under this banner, he contested several elections, leveraging his public profile from the military uprisings. His political career saw him serve as the mayor of San Miguel, a key municipality in Buenos Aires province, a position he held from 1997 to 2003. Additionally, Rico briefly took on the role of Minister of Police for Buenos Aires province in 1999, further solidifying his diverse, albeit controversial, journey from military rebellion to mainstream politics in Argentina.