Argentina honours Evita with 100-peso note
As first lady, Evita swiftly took control of two pillars of her husband’s government — the relationship with unions and handing government aid to poor citizens, many of whom idolised her. While he focused on politics, she dominated the media with talk of improving living conditions for her “shirtless ones.”
“Evita gave form to today’s Argentina in terms of working-class consciousness, respect for workers no matter their rank, awareness that workers have rights and that they must be respected. Before, workers lacked any rights and there was hardly any social legislation,” said Mr. Pigna, whose book “Evita, Shreds of her Life” was just published. “This really set Argentina apart from the rest of Latin America.”
Some historians say that only now, 60 years after Gen. Juan Domingo Peron’s firebrand wife succumbed to cancer at the age of 33, are many beginning to consider how much her actions shaped the society they live in today.
Critics saw the young former dancer as a power-hungry tramp. Many were so furious at the way the foundation she created took from the rich and gave to the poor that they refused to mention her by name, calling her “that woman”.
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