Eduardo Valdés

Eduardo Félix Valdés (born 16 February 1956) is an Argentine politician, currently serving as National Deputy elected in the Federal Capital. A member of the Justicialist Party, Valdés served as the Argentine ambassador to the Holy See during the presidency of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

In addition, Valdés also served as a member of the Mercosur Parliament from 2015 to 2019, as a member of the Buenos Aires City Legislature from 2000 to 2003, and as a member of the 1994 Constitutional Convention.

Early and personal life Eduardo Félix Valdés was born on 16 February 1956 in Córdoba, though he was raised in Neuquén. He went to school at the Colegio Don Bosco of Neuquén. Later on, he studied law at the University of Buenos Aires. Valdés has master's degrees in international relations from the Murcia and Georgetown University.

Valdés is married and has two sons. One of his sons, Juan Manuel, is active in politics and currently serves as a member of the Buenos Aires City Legislature.

Valdés is a devout Roman Catholic, and various sources describe him as being a friend to Pope Francis, whom Valdés met when Francis was Archbishop of Buenos Aires.

Career Valdés's political career began in 1989, as secretary general of the Buenos Aires City Government during the mayorship of Carlos Grosso. In 1991, Valdés was appointed city councillor. Later, in 1994, he was elected as one of the representatives of the Federal Capital in the Constitutional Convention tasked with rewriting the Constitution of Argentina.

In 2000, Valdés was elected to the Buenos Aires City Legislature, where he presided the Justicialist Front parliamentary bloc. In 2003, he was appointed chief of staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship, during the administration of Rafael Bielsa.

Following his resignation from the Foreign Ministry, Valdés turned to the private sector and worked as an independent lawyer. As an attorney, Valdés represented one of the victims of former priest Julio César Grassi. He also organized the Pope's meetings with Diego Maradona and members of La Cámpora.

National Deputy At the 2019 general election, Valdés was the 5th candidate in the Frente de Todos list to the Chamber of Deputies in the City of Buenos Aires. Despite not being elected, Valdés took office on 10 December 2019 in place of Fernando Solanas, who never took his seat and instead became Argentina's representative before UNESCO.

As a deputy, Valdés's position on the legalization of abortion was subject of much speculation by Argentine media ahead of the Chamber of Deputies vote on the Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy Bill on 11 December 2020. Despite the bill counting with support from President Alberto Fernández, Valdés's faith and his closeness to the Vatican and to Pope Francis were highlighted as potential reasons for his opposition. In an open letter, Valdés was personally asked by his son, Juan Manuel, to vote in favor of the bill.

In 2021, Valdés caused controversy when it was revealed he had been vaccinated against COVID-19 under improper conditions, suggesting favoritism by then-Health Minister Ginés González García.

Electoral history + Election Office List District Votes Result . Total % . 2000 City Legislator Open Politics for Social Integrity 3 City of Buenos Aires 118,795 6.36% 3rd 2019 National Deputy Frente de Todos 5 City of Buenos Aires 641,054 35.02% 2nd 2023 Union for the Homeland 2 City of Buenos Aires 577,225 31.41% 2nd