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| Evita fits the bill – Eva Perón to become first woman on Argentinian banknotes | Evita fits the bill – Eva Perón to become first woman on Argentinian banknotes |
| (4 months later) | |
| Argentina's former first lady Eva Perón, an icon of film, stage and song as Evita, is to become the first woman to grace its national currency. | Argentina's former first lady Eva Perón, an icon of film, stage and song as Evita, is to become the first woman to grace its national currency. |
| President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner revealed the new 100peso note on the eve of the 60th anniversary of Perón's death from uterine cancer at 33. | President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner revealed the new 100peso note on the eve of the 60th anniversary of Perón's death from uterine cancer at 33. |
| Fernandez, whose party was inspired by Eva's husband, Juan Perón, said the initial printing would be commemorative, but that she wants all new 100-peso notes to carry the former first lady's image, replacing that of Julio Argentino Roca, a 19th-century president. | Fernandez, whose party was inspired by Eva's husband, Juan Perón, said the initial printing would be commemorative, but that she wants all new 100-peso notes to carry the former first lady's image, replacing that of Julio Argentino Roca, a 19th-century president. |
| "After 200 years it's the first time that a woman appears on a bill, and if you have to honour the gender, who better than the figure of Eva?" she said. | "After 200 years it's the first time that a woman appears on a bill, and if you have to honour the gender, who better than the figure of Eva?" she said. |
| Perón was a controversial figure, but one who fought with passion for society to be more equal and just, Fernández said. "It's not that Eva was a saint. It's not that she didn't make mistakes … She was a humble woman of the people. Honouring her with this bill is a way of recovering justice." | Perón was a controversial figure, but one who fought with passion for society to be more equal and just, Fernández said. "It's not that Eva was a saint. It's not that she didn't make mistakes … She was a humble woman of the people. Honouring her with this bill is a way of recovering justice." |
| Passionate arguments about her character drowned out more serious efforts to examine Perón's legacy for long after her death. Her opponents were so furious at the way the foundation she created took from the rich and gave to the poor that they often refused to mention her by name, calling her "that woman". | Passionate arguments about her character drowned out more serious efforts to examine Perón's legacy for long after her death. Her opponents were so furious at the way the foundation she created took from the rich and gave to the poor that they often refused to mention her by name, calling her "that woman". |
| Setting aside the social-climber image fostered by the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, many now credit her activism and passion for things that are central to Argentinian culture today, from widespread desires for social justice and equal rights to a shared assumption that society's poorest need and deserve the government's help. | Setting aside the social-climber image fostered by the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, many now credit her activism and passion for things that are central to Argentinian culture today, from widespread desires for social justice and equal rights to a shared assumption that society's poorest need and deserve the government's help. |
| "Evita now is a character accepted nationwide much more than 20 years ago. Many people who don't think like Evita, admire her," said historian Felipe Pigna. | "Evita now is a character accepted nationwide much more than 20 years ago. Many people who don't think like Evita, admire her," said historian Felipe Pigna. |
| "Even from parts of Argentine society you wouldn't expect I don't know if they vindicate her, but they respect her," said Pigna. "There has been a transformation in Argentine society." | "Even from parts of Argentine society you wouldn't expect I don't know if they vindicate her, but they respect her," said Pigna. "There has been a transformation in Argentine society." |
| That transformation has been intensely promoted by Fernández, who misses few opportunities to draw comparisons between herself and the Peróns. | That transformation has been intensely promoted by Fernández, who misses few opportunities to draw comparisons between herself and the Peróns. |
| As first lady, Perón swiftly took control of two pillars of her husband's government: the relationship with unions and handing government aid to poor citizens. While he focused on politics, she dominated the media with talk of improving living conditions for her "shirtless ones". | As first lady, Perón swiftly took control of two pillars of her husband's government: the relationship with unions and handing government aid to poor citizens. While he focused on politics, she dominated the media with talk of improving living conditions for her "shirtless ones". |
| "Evita gave form to today's Argentina in terms of working-class consciousness, respect for workers no matter their rank, awareness that workers have rights and that they must be respected. Before, workers lacked any rights and there was hardly any social legislation," said Pigna. | "Evita gave form to today's Argentina in terms of working-class consciousness, respect for workers no matter their rank, awareness that workers have rights and that they must be respected. Before, workers lacked any rights and there was hardly any social legislation," said Pigna. |
| Eva Duarte Perón was born illegitimate, raised poor, barely educated and became an actor at a time when high society scorned the profession. | Eva Duarte Perón was born illegitimate, raised poor, barely educated and became an actor at a time when high society scorned the profession. |
| Understanding how a woman with so many strikes against her managed to become such a transcendent historical figure is more relevant than ever now that Fernández occupies the Argentianian presidency, said Araceli Bellota, whose book on the two women was recently published. | Understanding how a woman with so many strikes against her managed to become such a transcendent historical figure is more relevant than ever now that Fernández occupies the Argentianian presidency, said Araceli Bellota, whose book on the two women was recently published. |
| "There's a political continuity, because Cristina occupies a public space that Eva opened when she burst on the scene 55 years ago," Bellota said. Perónism "made it possible for a woman whose parents were workers, like Cristina, to attend a university and prepare for a career. And that's what enabled her to be president." | "There's a political continuity, because Cristina occupies a public space that Eva opened when she burst on the scene 55 years ago," Bellota said. Perónism "made it possible for a woman whose parents were workers, like Cristina, to attend a university and prepare for a career. And that's what enabled her to be president." |
| It was also combined pressure of Juan Perón and his glamorous wife that persuaded the Argentinian congress to give women the right to vote, just ahead of his re-election campaign. Evita cast the ballot for her husband from her hospital bed in 1951. Eight months later, she was dead. | It was also combined pressure of Juan Perón and his glamorous wife that persuaded the Argentinian congress to give women the right to vote, just ahead of his re-election campaign. Evita cast the ballot for her husband from her hospital bed in 1951. Eight months later, she was dead. |
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