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In September 1955, all three branches of the armed forces combined to seize control of the floundering country. Auditors later discovered that during Perón's years in power, Argentina's treasury had been drained of $1.25 billion. After bouncing around in exile from Paraguay to Panama to Venezuela to the Dominican Republic, Perón finally settled in Madrid in 1960, where he bought a $500,000 villa that he called "17 de Octubre." There Peron kept in touch with his loyalists in Argentina, goading them to civil strife with taped messages, letters and personal envoys.
His efforts were encouraged by a succession of five military and three civilian governments that stumbled and fell from power. With the failure of each new government, the people were reminded that there was always another alternative: Perón. Last year, amid increasing terrorism and public clamor, the military government of Alejandro Lanusse decided to allow free elections. Lanusse, a general who had once been imprisoned by Perón, challenged the old caudillo to return and run for President.
Perón returned, but only after the deadline for qualifying as a candidate had passed. If he needed a test of his popularity, the trip provided it. During a 28-day visit to Buenos Aires, Perón attracted huge crowds of cheering supporters to his suburban villa. He also tested his strength by conferring with leaders throughout the Argentine political spectrum. As he headed back to Madrid, he endorsed the candidacy of former Dentist Hector Campora, who described himself as Peron's "obsequious servant." Last March, Campora won the election handily, and the stage was set for Perón to strut again.
To date, he has mainly strutted in the wings. Since moving his household to Buenos Aires eleven weeks ago, he has wavered between spells of puzzling inertia and bursts of curious action. Toward the end of his initial 23 days of illness and introspection, Peron sacked his "servant" from the presidency. Yet the master did not assume the post himself. Instead, he appointed another surrogate, Raul Lastiri, whose major claim to minor fame was his relationship (son-in-law) to Perón's personal secretary and astrologer, José López Rega.
The firing of Cámpora was hailed by "orthodox" Peronists as evidence that their leader was finally taking a hard line against the left; they felt that Cámpora had been too gentle with terrorists and demonstrators. Perón pleased his right wing even more by also dismissing Vice President Vicente Solano Lima and two moderately leftist Cabinet ministers. Cámpora and Lima were appointed ambassadors abroad, touching off speculation that the Peronist left wing was undergoing a purge.