Among the state organizations eliminated by decree there are some that did not even function:
registered in the letter, they never existed in reality.
This is the case of the National System of Presidential Museums and Archives.
Created by decree in 1999 (209/99), its purpose was to “
administer, guard, inventory, classify, preserve and disseminate the presidential historical heritage which includes the files, documents and objects related to the constitutional, legal and ceremonial activities of the citizens who have held the First Judiciary since 1983.
”
Curiously, it was
an idea of Carlos Menem
, the only Argentine president of the 20th century, along with Victorino de la Plaza, included on a whim in President Milei's brand new Hall of Heroes in the Casa Rosada.
It never functioned nor had authorities but
it survived in the organizational chart for 24 years and six presidencies.
Maria Coutinho, a political scientist at the Di Tella University, in her X account, gave details of the frustrated initiative that had her as the protagonist:
"I had to intervene in the design of that norm, half reluctantly, although I tried to incorporate a fundamental issue in which I continue to believe: preserving the collection, documentation and archives of the presidents. The scheme was inspired by the US (https://archives.gov/presidential-libraries…) Why? Carlos Menem had visited the presidential library Bush and he was fascinated. He came back and said he wanted something like that. Especially the museum, not so much the archives.
"It was up to me to investigate and find out how to shape it," says Coutinho.
He traveled to the United States to learn how the presidential archives and museums worked there; there were meetings with those in charge of him in Washington.
"
The system is fascinating but difficult to transfer, especially the part that makes museums require private financing. The system was not implemented. It was going to be carried out by law and ended up being by decree. It generated hesitation among actors in the system. I think that Beyond the pre-announced failure of the scheme, we owe ourselves (a) system of preservation, systematization and availability of presidential archives
,” concludes Coutinho.
There was another initiative that did have partial completion: the
Raúl Alfonsín Documentary Fund
, a project promoted by its spokesperson, José Ignacio López, and the Alfonsín family, with the donation of papers, documents and personal belongings of the former president that were exhibited at the Museum of the Casa Rosada and are currently in the National Library and the General Archive of the Nation.
Manuel Adorni and Karina Milei.
Carlos Menem, included in the Hall of Heroes, in the Government House.
8/3/2024
In the attic of the presidential memory remain the recitals of the deceased decree signed by Menem: “
That the exercise of the Presidency of the Nation deserves to be registered and disseminated adequately in order to promote a better understanding of the Institution, Argentine history and of the political system within the framework of democracy.
That the year 1983 constitutes a turning point in Argentine institutional and political history because it meant the definitive recovery of democracy and the rule of the National Constitution
. "
Could there be any relationship between the lack of interest in protecting this memory of the presidencies and the
patrimonial conception
according to which each President is the owner of his position rather than a representative and tenant of it?