Information on Jose Octavio Bordon [ARG24356.E]

Jose Octavio Bordon was elected as a Peronist deputy, in Mendoza province in 1983, and then as governor of the province from 1987 to 1991 (Latin American Regional Reports 1 June 1995). In 1989 he was selected by President Carlos Menem to be the Minister of Public Works but resigned shortly after his appointment (Latin American Weekly Report 11 Mar. 1993). In 1992 he won a senatorial seat (ibid.).

In 1994, Bordon defected from the ruling Partido Justicialista (PJ) (Latin American Weekly Report 6 Oct. 1994; ibid. 22 Feb. 1996) and formed his own party called the Politica Albierta par la Integridad (PAIS) (ibid. 6 Oct. 1994). Bordon and Carlos Alverez, leader of the Frente Grande (FG), formed a coalition called Frepaso in November 1994 (ibid. 24 Nov. 1994; Noticias Argentinas 9 Feb. 1996). In February 1995, Bordon won the leadership of Frepaso over Alverez (Latin America Regional Reports 1 June 1995).

Bordon was Frepaso's candidate in the 1995 presidential elections (Latin America Regional Reports 1 June 1995; Latin American Weekly Report 13 Apr. 1995, 158). He placed second to Menem in the election garnering 30 per cent of the vote (Latin America Regional Reports 6 July 1995; Political Risk Letter 1 June 1995).

In a dispute over Frepaso's choice of candidate for the mayoral elections in Buenos Aires, Bordon resigned from the coalition in February 1996 (Latin American Weekly Report 22 Feb. 1996; Lagniappe Letter 1 Mar. 1996; Economist Intelligence Unit 2 Apr. 1996). He also resigned his leadership of PAIS (Defence and Foreign Affairs Feb. 1996; Lagniappe Letter 1 Mar. 1996) and his senatorial seat (ibid.; Economist Intelligence Unit 11 Apr. 1996).

In May 1996, Bordon was charged with fraud (Latin America Weekly Report 2 May 1996). This could not be corroborated in the sources consulted by the DIRB.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References


Defense & Foreign Affairs' Strategic Policy. February 1996. "Argentina." (NEXIS)

Economist Intelligence Unit. 2 April 1996. "Argentina: Country Forecast Summary." (NEXIS)

Lagniappe Letter. 1 March 1996. "BA Municipal Election Splits Main Parties." (NEXIS)

Latin America Regional Reports: Southern Cone Report [London]. 6 July 1995. "Menem Backers Suggest Third Term; Only a Small Amendment Would be Needed, They Say." (NEXIS)

_____. 1 June 1995. "Jose Bordon: Voice of a New Opposition; Man from Mendoza has Come a Long Way in a Short Time." (NEXIS)

Latin American Weekly Report [London]. 22 February 1996. "Frepaso Self-destructs as Bordon Leaves to Rally Anti-Menem Peronists."

_____. 13 April 1995. "Argentina: Politics: Challenger Bordon Rises from Behind."

_____. 24 November 1994. "Argentina/ Split in Frente Grande."

_____. 6 October 1994. "Argentina: Politics: PJ Loses Majority in the Lower Chamber."

_____. 11 March 1993. "Argentina: Politics: Menem Re-election Bid Hits the Streets."

Noticias Argentinas [Buenos Aires, in Spanish]. 9 February 1996. "'Chronology' of Argentina's Frepaso Alliance Discussed." (FBIS-LAT-96-031 14 Feb. 1996, pp. 26-27)

Political Risk Letter. 1 June 1995. "Argentina Mandate Increases Optimism." (NEXIS)