Two Methods to Establish Power
Perón's role as the Secretariat of Labor
The military coup of 1943 put Perón in the position of Secretariat of Labor and Welfare. Perón was very successful at this and unified different welfare agencies with the aim of centralizing them and making he Secretariat of Labor and Welfare more efficient. His work as Secretary of Labour and Welfare, from November 1943 to October 1945, achieved far more for the workers that anything the unions had achieved since 1930. Instead of repressing the workers, as the government had done in the past, or allowing them to be attracted by the leftist political parties, Perón listened to them and acted upon their demands and needs. He gained the support of the workers though his work in the Labor and Welfare unit which significantly impacted his later presidency.
Source D:
If a law was to be proposed, Perón made the announcement. When delegations came to discuss the matter, Perón addressed them. When the law was signed, it was his hand that held the pen. If there was a ceremony that could be worked up, it was held in his office. If a gesture was desired to tilt a strike negotiation to the side of labour, it was Perón who would visit the premises and be photographed chatting with the strikers. If union leaders had to be coaxed, it was to Perón’s office that they were invited... As time went on the entire national movement came to be seen as the personal and sole achievement of Perón, a movement in which Perón led and the labour leaders struggled to maintain his pace. He was using them, not the reverse. From Robert D. Crassweller, Perón and the Enigmas of Argentina, 1987
Minister of War
When Perón became the Minister of War of the Argentinian government he launched a massive expansion of the armed forces. He increased both the army’s size and its budget. He ordered the purchase of new military equipment, expanded local factories for the production of military material, raised officers’ pay and improved military barracks and living quarters. These policies gained Perón the support of the army. Which helped him when he became president.
The military coup of 1943 put Perón in the position of Secretariat of Labor and Welfare. Perón was very successful at this and unified different welfare agencies with the aim of centralizing them and making he Secretariat of Labor and Welfare more efficient. His work as Secretary of Labour and Welfare, from November 1943 to October 1945, achieved far more for the workers that anything the unions had achieved since 1930. Instead of repressing the workers, as the government had done in the past, or allowing them to be attracted by the leftist political parties, Perón listened to them and acted upon their demands and needs. He gained the support of the workers though his work in the Labor and Welfare unit which significantly impacted his later presidency.
Source D:
If a law was to be proposed, Perón made the announcement. When delegations came to discuss the matter, Perón addressed them. When the law was signed, it was his hand that held the pen. If there was a ceremony that could be worked up, it was held in his office. If a gesture was desired to tilt a strike negotiation to the side of labour, it was Perón who would visit the premises and be photographed chatting with the strikers. If union leaders had to be coaxed, it was to Perón’s office that they were invited... As time went on the entire national movement came to be seen as the personal and sole achievement of Perón, a movement in which Perón led and the labour leaders struggled to maintain his pace. He was using them, not the reverse. From Robert D. Crassweller, Perón and the Enigmas of Argentina, 1987
Minister of War
When Perón became the Minister of War of the Argentinian government he launched a massive expansion of the armed forces. He increased both the army’s size and its budget. He ordered the purchase of new military equipment, expanded local factories for the production of military material, raised officers’ pay and improved military barracks and living quarters. These policies gained Perón the support of the army. Which helped him when he became president.
Was Perón a Left Wing or Right Wing Leader
Perón was neither a right nor left wing leader and purposely never claimed to be a capitalist or a socialist. Perón made his own path in the political spectrum, mostly following a central path between the two right and left sides. Despite this, many historians argue that he was a left wing leader due to his economic success and the necessity for change in Argentina when he came to power.
How did Perón Treat his Opposition?
During the beginning of Perón's terms as president he had little open opposition and those who opposed him such as the rich who questions his economic policies, were imprisoned, killed, or exiled quickly. In most cases the opposition faced by Perón was covered up before it ever became a popular belief. Unfortunately for Perón he was not able to control everything and during the end of his last term before he himself was exiled the military started a coup and he was overthrown.