Gerardo Morales is an Argentine politician and accountant, current governor of the province of Jujuy and member of the Unión Cívica Radical party. He was born in Salta, on July 18, 1959, into a humble and hard-working family.
He began his political activism in the early 1980s at the National University of Jujuy, where he earned his degree as a Certified Public Accountant and worked as a professor.
Between 1989 and 2000, Gerardo Morales served as a provincial deputy. In 2001, he was elected national senator. From the end of 2009 until the end of 2011, he led the Senate Bloc, and in 2012, he was Vice President of the Upper House.
During his time as a lawmaker, he focused on defending the interests of Jujuy. He authored a large number of legislative proposals, many of which became laws.
Among them stand out Law 26727 on retirement for agricultural workers, Law 26494 on retirement for construction workers, Law 26894 on the protection of community lands, Law 26485 against violence toward women, Law 26390 on the minimum working age, and Law 26579 establishing the age of majority at 18.
As governor
Since being elected governor of Jujuy in December 2015, Gerardo Morales has focused on promoting initiatives aimed at reactivating the province’s economy, creating conditions for regional development.
One of these initiatives is the implementation of a regional free trade zone in the Puna and another free trade zone in Perico, the latter with an industrial focus. The Puna is a region rich in natural and cultural resources, home to communities that have lived there for ten thousand years.
Both initiatives aim to generate employment and attract investment, while creating new opportunities for industry and commerce.