NEWSWEEK: What have been your main accomplishments? MENEM: We reformed the Constitution by way of total consensus. All of Argentina’s reforms in the past were basically imposed from above. We completely restored relations with Great Britain after the Malvinas war. We solved our border disputes with Chile. Mercosur [the common market linking Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay] is another success.
In economics, our achievements were even greater, starting with streamlining government. All the money-losing state companies were turned over to the private sector. We totally eliminated hyperinflation, which could have meant a debacle and national convulsion. We made important advances in eliminating corruption. In almost every way we are much better off than in 1989. According to the United Nations, Argentina has risen in the category of “human development” from 106th place in 1989 to 39th today.
What have you left undone? The only major item on the agenda that is still pending is unemployment, which is a result of the various crises. But we already have many proposals on the table and we have more than $30 billion in foreign-currency reserves. We inherited government with only $60 million! There are $80 billion in bank deposits, almost 60 percent in dollars. This has afforded us total stability.
But there is still much to be done in the way of social reforms. All human effort is flawed, but there has never been a process of reform in Argentina like the one we set in motion in education and health care. All the schools have computers and Internet access. We increased the university budget by 20 percent a year, from $800 million to $1.9 billion today.
Do you consider Argentina a First World country? We are on our way. In some fields, such as communications, we have already made great progress. In fiber-optic networks Argentina is among the top three countries in the world. [And] Argentina is one of the few countries prepared for the millennium bug.
Do you fear that your successor may reverse many of these advances? I have been listening to all the candidates and I am fairly confident that there will be no major change in our policies over the last 10 years. [They know that] no government has been as successful as this one.
Your private life has aroused much comment over the years. Why is that? Maybe those of us who have a certain presence arouse strong emotions. Though I am not in the same category, even our lord Jesus Christ aroused great hatred but also great love.
What about examples like the [gift] Ferrari that you received… Why is it frivolous for a president to drive a Ferrari? I know presidents and kings who have driven all sorts of vehicles. I was a rally driver for 30 years and so it occurred to me to drive a Ferrari. Why not?
There have been reports that you were sad, isolated and almost on the point of resignation. Resignation? I can assure you that I am not sad, it is one of the [presidential] candidates who is sad. Boring and sad, as well. I feel great, better than ever. I am passing my last months in office with energy and I will exercise power until Dec. 10. I can assure you that if I had been given the opportunity to compete in these elections, I would have won at a canter.
