Juan Zabaleta
{{short description|Argentine politician}}
{{use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Juan Zabaleta
|image = Juan Zabaleta (cropped).jpg
|office = Mayor of Hurlingham
|term_start = 14 October 2022
|term_end = 8 December 2023
|predecessor = Damián Selci
|successor = Damian Selci
|term_start1 = 10 December 2015
|term_end1 = 5 August 2021
|predecessor1 = Luis Emilio Acuña
|successor1 = Damián Selci
|office2 = Minister of Social Development
|president2 = Alberto Fernández
|term_start2 = 10 August 2021
|term_end2 = 13 October 2022
|predecessor2 = Daniel Arroyo
|successor2 = Victoria Tolosa Paz
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|4|29|df=y}}
|birth_place = Haedo, Argentina
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Justicialist Party
|otherparty = Front for Victory {{small|(2003–2017)}}
Unidad Ciudadana {{small|(2017–2019)}}
Frente de Todos {{small|(2019–present)}}
|alma_mater =
|signature =
}}
Juan Horacio "Juanchi" Zabaleta (born 29 April 1967) is an Argentine politician and retired racing driver, currently serving as intendente (mayor) of Hurlingham, a partido in the Greater Buenos Aires metropolitan area. He was first elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019. From 2021 to 2022, he was the country's Minister of Social Development in the cabinet of President Alberto Fernández.
Early life
Zabaleta was born on 29 April 1967 in Haedo, a suburb in the Greater Buenos Aires conurbation. In his youth, he was a co-pilot for racing driver Luis "Patita" Minervino in Turismo Carretera.{{cite web|url=https://www.primerplanoonline.com.ar/zabaleta-las-corridas-participo-una-exhibicion-turismo-carretera-junto-al-patita-minervino/|work=Primer Plano|title=Zabaleta, a las corridas: participó de una exhibición de Turismo Carretera junto al ‘Patita’ Minervino|date=26 April 2017|access-date=9 August 2021|language=es}} Zabaleta and Minervino won thirteen races and were runners-up in 1995 and 1996 for Chevrolet. In 2012, now as a mechanical technician, Zabaleta successfully lobbied for the state purchase of Turismo Carretera and the public transmission of races during the government of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.{{cite web|url=https://www.ambito.com/politica/daniel-arroyo/quien-es-juanchi-zabaleta-el-nuevo-ministro-desarrollo-social-n5236669|work=Ámbito|title=Quién es "Juanchi" Zabaleta, el nuevo ministro de Desarrollo Social|date=9 August 2021|access-date=9 August 2021|language=es}}
Political career
Zabaleta began his political activism in the Justicialist Party. He was director of union affairs in the National Social Security Administration (ANSES) from 2004 to 2007, and administrative manager in the General Secretariat of ANSES starting in 2007. He also served as Administrative Director of the Argentine Senate under Amado Boudou.{{cite web|url=https://www.rionegro.com.ar/quien-es-juan-juanchi-zabaleta-el-elegido-de-fernandez-para-el-ministerio-de-desarrollo-social-1914530/|title=Quién es Juan "Juanchi" Zabaleta, el elegido de Fernández para el ministerio de Desarrollo Social|work=Río Negro|date=9 August 2021|access-date=9 August 2021|language=es}} From 2009 to 2011 he was Undersecretary of Institutional Affairs at the Ministry of Economy.{{cite web|url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2021/08/09/juan-zabaleta-un-intendente-peronista-que-buscara-darle-un-nuevo-perfil-al-ministerio-de-desarrollo-social/|work=Infobae|title=Juan Zabaleta, un intendente peronista y cercano a Alberto Fernández que buscará darle un nuevo perfil al Ministerio de Desarrollo Social|date=9 August 2021|access-date=9 August 2021|language=es}}
In 2015, Zabaleta ran for the mayoralty of Hurlingham as part of the Front for Victory; he won with 38% of the vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.hurlinghamaldia.com/juan-zabaleta-el-nuevo-intendente-de-hurlingham/|work=Hurlingham al Día|title=JUAN ZABALETA, EL NUEVO INTENDENTE DE HURLINGHAM|date=29 October 2015|access-date=9 August 2021|language=es}} He took office on 12 December 2015, succeeding Luis Acuña.{{cite web|url=https://www.zonanortediario.com.ar/12/12/2015/juan-zabaleta-asumi-como-intendente-de-hurlingham/|work=Zona Norte Diario|title=Juan Zabaleta asumió como Intendente de Hurlingham|date=12 December 2015|access-date=9 August 2021|language=es}} He was re-elected for a second term in 2019 with over 54% of the vote, as part of the Frente de Todos coalition.{{cite web|url=https://www.letrap.com.ar/nota/2019-10-27-23-0-0-arraso-zavaleta-en-hurlingham-fue-reelecto-con-mas-del-54-de-votos|work=Letra P|title=Arrasó Zavaleta en Hurlingham: fue reelecto con más del 54% de votos|date=27 October 2019|access-date=9 August 2021|language=es}}
=Ministry of Social Development=
On 9 August 2021, Cabinet Chief Santiago Cafiero confirmed Zabaleta would be the next Minister of Social Development of Argentina, in replacement of Daniel Arroyo, who resigned to focus on his campaign to the Argentine Chamber of Deputies in the 2021 legislative election.{{cite web|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/358120-quien-es-juan-zabaleta-el-nuevo-ministro-de-desarrollo-socia|work=Página/12|title=Quién es Juan Zabaleta, el nuevo ministro de Desarrollo Social|date=29 July 2021|access-date=9 August 2021|language=es}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cronista.com/economia-politica/quien-es-juanchi-zabaleta-el-nuevo-ministro-de-desarrollo-social/|work=El Cronista|title=Quién es "Juanchi" Zabaleta, el nuevo ministro de Desarrollo Social|date=9 August 2021|access-date=9 August 2021|language=es}} Zabaleta was one of two ministerial replacements ahead of the 2021 election, alongside Jorge Taiana, who replaced Agustín Rossi as Minister of Defense.{{cite web|url=https://www.perfil.com/noticias/actualidad/juan-zabaleta-y-jorge-taiana-confirmados-como-nuevos-ministros-de-desarrollo-y-defensa.phtml|work=Perfil|title=Juan Zabaleta y Jorge Taiana, confirmados como nuevos ministros de Desarrollo y Defensa|date=9 August 2021|access-date=9 August 2021|language=es}}
In October 2022, he resigned from the position, citing his wish to return to Hurlingham as mayor. Having taken a leave of absence, he returned to the mayorship.{{cite news|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/el-regreso-de-juan-zabaleta-a-hurlingham-no-sera-facil-la-campora-le-cambio-el-gabinete-y-solo-tiene-nid10102022/|work=La Nación|title=El regreso de Juan Zabaleta a Hurlingham no será fácil: la Cámpora le cambió el gabinete y solo tiene cuatro concejales de 20|last=Fuego Simondet|first=Javier|date=10 October 2022|access-date=14 October 2022|language=es}} He was succeeded as minister by Victoria Tolosa Paz.{{cite news|url=https://www.lanoticiaweb.com.ar/245864/cuando-asume-zabaleta-en-hurlingham/|work=La Noticia Web|title=¿Cuándo asume Zabaleta en Hurlingham?|date=12 October 2022|access-date=14 October 2022|language=es}}
Personal life
Zabaleta lives in Hurlingham and is married to Carolina Olzagasti. He has six children.{{cite web|url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/juanchi-zabaleta-corredor-autos-secretario-amado-boudou-nuevo-ministro-desarrollo-social_0_wke68uRj3.html|work=Clarín|title=Quién es Juanchi Zabaleta: de corredor de autos y secretario de Amado Boudou a nuevo ministro de Desarrollo Social|last=de León|first=Pablo|date=29 July 2021|access-date=9 August 2021|language=es}}
References
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External links
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{{s-bef|before=Luis Emilio Acuña}}
{{s-ttl|title=Mayor of Hurlingham|years=2015–2021}}
{{s-aft|after=Damián Selci}}
{{s-bef|before=Daniel Arroyo}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Social Development|years=2021–2022}}
{{s-aft|after=Victoria Tolosa Paz}}
{{s-bef|before=Damián Selci}}
{{s-ttl|title=Mayor of Hurlingham|years=2022–2023}}
{{s-aft|after=Damian Selci}}
{{s-end}}
{{Alberto Fernández cabinet}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zabaleta, Juan}}
Category:Argentine racing drivers
Category:Argentine sportsperson-politicians
Category:Mayors of places in Argentina
Category:Justicialist Party politicians
Category:People from Morón Partido