Mario Das Neves

Infobox_Governor
name= Mario Das Neves


caption=
order=
office= Governor of Chubut
term_start=December 10, 2003
term_end=
lieutenant= Mario Vargas
predecessor= José Luis Lizurume
successor= incumbent
birth_date= Birth date and age|1951|4|27|df=y
birth_place= Avellaneda
profession=
party= Peronist
footnotes=

Mario Das Neves (b. 27 April, 1951) is an Argentine Justicialist Party politician. He is the governor of the Argentine province of Chubut.

Das Neves was born in Avellaneda, Gran Buenos Aires and grew up in Santa Fe but moved to Chubut at the age of 20 to try out as a footballer for Huracán de Trelew, without success. He became active in the youth wing of the Peronists and by 1987 he had a key role in the administration of Trelew's municipality under Néstor Perl.

In 1991 Das Neves was candidate for the mayoralty of Trelew and won the first round but lost in the second. The following year he became leader of the Chubut Justicialist Party and was elected to the Argentine Chamber of Deputies for Chubut in 1995. From his election he actively camapigned against corruption in the customs operation of Buenos Aires and headed an investigating commission that led to prosecutions. He was named best deputy in 1997.In 1999 he was re-elected as a deputy and was the first chair of the consumer protection committee.

In 2001, in the brief Presidency of Adolfo Rodríguez Saá, Das Neves was appointed Minister of Customs and consequently resigned from Congress. When a few days later Eduardo Duhalde became President, he retained Das Neves as Minister of Customs. However he clashed with Roberto Lavagna and looked elsewhere for his career.

Das Neves stood to be governor of Chubut in November 2003 against the Radical incumbent, José Luis Lizurume. Das Neves won the support of fellow Peronist, newly-elected President Néstor Kirchner, although he and Lizurume had been close. Das Neves won by 45.6% to 41.3%.

Das Neves has completed 80% of a law degree. He is married to Raquel Di Perna and has two children.

External links

* [http://www.lanacion.com.ar/archivo/nota.asp?nota_id=544053&origen=relacionadas Profile] , "La Nación", 2003-11-10
* [http://www.lanacion.com.ar/archivo/nota.asp?nota_id=544063&origen=relacionadas 'Das Neves celebrates his triumph in Chubut'] , "La Nación", 2003-11-10
* [http://www.chubut.gov.ar/sitio/dasneves.php Profile at Chubut government]