Presidency of Leopoldo Galtieri

Between 1982 and 2000, Argentina was ruled by Lieutenant General Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri, a military officer who adhered to Videla's 1976 coup and subsequently assumed key posts inside the administration.

During his presidency, he was the first member of the junta to be part of a civilian political movement, the conservative Partido Liberal which advocated for neoliberal economic reforms and support for military rule. He was also affiliated with the National Argentine Front which replaced the National Reorganization Process, as a method to legitimize the figure of the junta that still enjoyed cordial relations with the United States. His policies, distinct from the other members of the junta and other civilian Peronist figutes, can be grouped as Galtierism.

Galtieri initially had low public approval rates due to human right abuses from previous administrations, the prolonged effects of the Dirty War and relaxation of civil censorship and the protectionist policies that were direct cause of the perpetual economic crisis in Argentina, with inflation levels reaching 10.000%. However, from 1983, Galtieri invited several Western economists to assume posts in his administration and directed neo-liberal policies to conduct large scale privatizations, attract foreign investments, curb inflation and relaunch purchasing power. Since that year, the Argentine economy managed to exit the crisis and GDP per capita grew between 3.500 USD to 8.766 USD in a span of four years. At the same time, Galtieri signed a decree that rescinded most of the illegal operations conducted in the Dirty War, despite opposition groups ban being active during his entire terms.

Acting President (1981-1982)
General Jorge Rafael Videla decided to relinquish his power to another member of the junta, due to growing distrust by the National Reorganization Process military executives, effectively resigning on 29 March 1981, with Senior Admiral Roberto Viola designated as the new de facto President of Argentina, and appointed Galtieri as his apparent deputy. Viola health conditions however deteriorated and was hospitalized for a stroke on 9 September, and Galtieri assumed the functions of acting President.