Perón 's widow returns to the political limelight
When the Argentine military removed President Isabel Perón from office in a bloodless coup eight years ago, most of the country bid her good riddance. Inflation had reached astronomical levels, the country teetered on the brink of bankruptcy, and in the streets, violence, kidnaping and murder ruled. Last week, however, the irrepressible Isabel returned to the political limelight in only her second visit home since she went into self-imposed exile in Spain after the 1976 military coup. This time, Argentina welcomed the widow of Juan Perón as if she were a visiting head of state.
The visit came at the invitation of President Raúl Alfonsín, who has been cultivating Isabel in an effort to improve his standing with the Perónist party. Alfonsín's Radical Civic Union Party scored a stunning upset victory over the Perónists in elections last October, marking the party's first defeat in a national election since the rise of Juan Perón in 1946. By forging a coalition among Radicals, conservatives and blue-collar workers, Alfonsín captured 52% of the vote, and his party gained control of the lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, in Congress. In the Senate, however, control was placed in the hands of seven wavering regional party Senators.
It was obvious from the moment she bounded onto the tarmac at a Buenos Aires airport that the years have taken none of the sass out of the indefatigable Isabel, who once earned a living as a cabaret dancer. Sporting a shiny brown leather coat, with a swatch of honey-blond hair falling over her right eye, she strode up to a group of Perónist party leaders, wagged an admonishing finger at them and declared, "Whoever misbehaves will get a spanking." Later, she continued jousting coquettishly with members of the Perónist National Council who had gathered in her hotel suite. "I'm not going to kiss the men," she giggled. "Beards make me itch."
Outside her hotel, throngs of supporters toting pictures of her late husband became embroiled in a rock-throwing clash with police. Order was restored only when Isabel appeared on her hotel balcony to give a majestic wave to her admirers.
Next day, before a national television audience, Isabel and Alfonsín exchanged effusive compliments, then met for 35 minutes behind closed doors. When they emerged, Alfonsín remarked, "We don't have important differences. All we have to discuss is tactics." Said Isabel: "You know, Mr. President, I'm at your command." Replied Alfonsín: "It's mutual."