# Roberto Eduardo Viola

> military officer, dictator and de facto president of Argentina

**Wikidata**: [Q313996](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313996)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Eduardo_Viola)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/roberto-eduardo-viola

## Summary
Roberto Eduardo Viola was an Argentine military officer and dictator who served as the de facto president of Argentina from March to December 1981. He was a key figure in the military junta that ruled Argentina during the National Reorganization Process (1976–1983), a period marked by widespread human rights abuses and political repression.

## Biography
- **Born:** October 13, 1924
- **Died:** September 30, 1994
- **Nationality:** Argentine
- **Education:**
  - Nation Military College (Argentine military academy, founded 1869)
  - Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (United States military school, active since 1946)
- **Known for:** Serving as de facto president of Argentina during the military dictatorship (1981)
- **Employer(s):**
  - Argentine military (1942–1979, 1981)
  - Argentine government (as de facto president, 1981)
- **Field(s):** Military, politics

## Contributions
Roberto Eduardo Viola played a significant role in Argentina's military government during the late 1970s and early 1980s. As a high-ranking military officer, he was involved in the National Reorganization Process, a period of authoritarian rule characterized by state terrorism, forced disappearances, and severe censorship. His brief presidency (March–December 1981) was part of this era, during which the military junta maintained control over the country through repression and economic policies that deepened national debt. Viola's leadership was marked by internal military conflicts, leading to his eventual removal by other junta members.

## FAQs
**What was Roberto Eduardo Viola's role in Argentina's military government?**
Roberto Eduardo Viola was a senior military officer who rose to become the de facto president of Argentina in 1981, succeeding Jorge Rafael Videla. His presidency was part of the National Reorganization Process, a period of military rule known for human rights violations and economic instability.

**Where was Roberto Eduardo Viola educated?**
Viola attended the Nation Military College, Argentina's premier military academy, and later trained at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, a U.S. military school.

**When did Roberto Eduardo Viola serve as president?**
Viola served as de facto president of Argentina from March 29, 1981, until December 11, 1981, when he was ousted by other military leaders.

**What happened after Viola's presidency?**
After being removed from power, Viola was replaced by General Leopoldo Galtieri. The military junta continued to rule until 1983, when democratic elections were restored.

## Why They Matter
Roberto Eduardo Viola's tenure as de facto president was a critical chapter in Argentina's dark period of military dictatorship. His leadership reflected the internal power struggles within the junta, contributing to the eventual collapse of the regime. The policies and repression during his time in office left a lasting scar on Argentine society, influencing the country's transition to democracy and its ongoing efforts to address human rights abuses from that era.

## Notable For
- Serving as de facto president of Argentina (1981)
- Being a key figure in the National Reorganization Process (1976–1983)
- His role in Argentina's military junta and its repressive policies
- Being educated at prestigious military institutions in Argentina and the U.S.

## Body
### Early Life and Military Career
Roberto Eduardo Viola was born on October 13, 1924, in Argentina. He pursued a military career, enrolling in the Nation Military College, Argentina's foremost military academy, founded in 1869. He later received additional training at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, a U.S. military school established in 1946. His military career spanned several decades, with active service from at least 1942 onward.

### Rise to Power
Viola rose through the ranks of the Argentine military during a turbulent period in the country's history. By the late 1970s, he became a prominent figure in the military junta that seized power in 1976, initiating the National Reorganization Process. This regime was characterized by severe human rights violations, including forced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings.

### Presidency and Downfall
Viola assumed the presidency on March 29, 1981, succeeding Jorge Rafael Videla. His tenure was marked by economic instability, continued repression, and internal conflicts within the military leadership. By December 1981, he was ousted in a power struggle and replaced by General Leopoldo Galtieri. His brief presidency highlighted the fragility of the junta's leadership and contributed to the regime's eventual collapse in 1983.

### Later Life and Legacy
After his removal from office, Viola remained a controversial figure in Argentine history. He passed away on September 30, 1994. His role in the military dictatorship and its atrocities has been widely condemned, and his presidency is remembered as part of a dark chapter in Argentina's struggle for democracy and human rights.

## References

1. [En un audio, amenazan con revelar las coimas que Ricardo Jaime habría pedido para Néstor Kirchner](https://www.clarin.com/politica/iphone-baratta-ricardo-jaime-pidio-dinero-cristina-cambio-confesar-recaudaba-coimas-nestor_0_ub32Irtma.html)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. [Source](https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/02/obituaries/roberto-viola-69-who-headed-argentine-military-dictatorship.html)
4. Find a Grave
5. Munzinger Personen
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. [Source](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/Causa_13_Sentencia.pdf)