Julio Cobos

Infobox_Vice President
name= Julio Cobos


caption=
order=34th
office= Vice President of Argentina
term_start= December 10, 2007
term_end=
president=Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
lieutenant=
predecessor= Daniel Scioli
successor=
birth_date= Birth date and age|1955|4|30
birth_place=
profession= Civil and construction engineer
party= Radical Civic Union
footnotes=

Julio César Cleto Cobos (born Mendoza, Argentina, 30 April 1955) is an Argentine politician, formerly of the Radical Civic Union (UCR), currently serving as the Vice President of Argentina alongside President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

Cobos has an academic background in civil engineering, graduating from the Universidad Tecnológica Nacional and teaching at this and other universities. He joined the UCR in 1991 and took public office as an official in the municipality of Mendoza then as minister of Environment and Public Works in the government of Mendoza Province 1999-2000. He was dean of the regional faculty of the Universidad Tecnológica Nacional 1997-2003. He was elected governor in 2003, heading a coalition between Radicals with Recrear and Federalists.

After his election, Cobos became a leading supporter of Peronist President Néstor Kirchner in Radical ranks, taking a more left-wing position. He was in dispute with other Radicals in Mendoza, led by former governor Roberto Iglesias, now Radical leader, over his support for Kirchner and their desire to back another presidential candidate in the 2007 elections. [es icon [http://www.clarin.com/diario/2006/06/04/elpais/p-01101.htm Una pelea de radicales mendocinos que tiene consecuencias nacionales] , "Clarín", 4 June 2006.] Mendoza's constitution does not allow re-election; however Cobos supported Celso Jaque to take office in 2007 on the same slate as Kirchner.

Cobos was asked by Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to stand as her running mate in 2007 heading the Front for Victory slate. He accepted her offer and was consequently expelled by the Radicals in July 2007. Having won the election, Cobos was sworn in as Vice-President in December 2007.

On July 17, 2008, Cobos, as Vice President and leader of the Argentine Senate, cast the deciding vote rejecting an increase in grain export taxes. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7511111.stm Argentine Senate rejects farm tax] , BBC News, 17 July 2008.] This controversial bill had led to economic and social instability in Argentina, with mass protests against and in support of the government. Cobos had been expected to back President Fernández de Kirchner. "I think today is the most difficult day of my life," Cobos said. "They tell me I must go along with the government for institutional reasons, but my heart tells me otherwise. May history judge me, my vote is not for, it's against."

References

*es icon [http://www.clarin.com/diario/2003/10/28/p-00801.htm Interview] , "Clarín", 2003-10-28
*es icon [http://www.cuyonoticias.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=6&Itemid=32 CuyoNoticias]
*es icon [http://juliocobospresidente.wordpress.com Cobismo Digital]