Menem: The President Show
Menem, an extravagant and charismatic politician, becomes president of a troubled nation. His term, marked by privatization of public enterprises, dollarization of the economy, and consulting fortunetellers, is overshadowed by terrorist attacks and the death of his son. His photographer, Olegario Salas, witnesses his life change along with Argentine society amid economic recovery and corruption.
Episodes
Menem, the governor of the small and modest province La Rioja, Argentina, embarks on a nationwide tour with a devoted group of followers, determined to win over voters and achieve his lifelong ambition of becoming president. To achieve this, he must navigate the challenges of his party's presidential primaries while also managing personal hurdles, including the jealousy of his wife, Zulema.
Menem's presidency quickly devolves into a nightmare as the country becomes a ticking time bomb. Suddenly he finds himself overwhelmed with the task of honoring campaign promises and dealing with two major threats: a military uprising and the increasingly confrontational behavior of his wife, Zulema. Olegario, now serving as the presidential photographer is caught in the chaos during the uprising.
Menem aims to privatize state-owned corporations to replenish the depleted State Treasury. To achieve this he seeks new allies, like María Julia Alsogaray, daughter of a prominent liberal politician, who is charmed by his charisma. This new alliance not only leads to a steamy personal relationship but also results in the scandalous privatization of the national telephone company.
As Menem grapples with corruption scandals and rampant inflation, he appoints a new Economy Minister with a promising economic plan. The plan proves successful, and the minister's popularity soars, inciting Menem's jealousy. Meanwhile, Olegario begins to suspect that Ayala may have tried to involve him in a corrupt scheme.
As Menem works to reform the Constitution to secure his reelection, he is plagued by a series of troubling nightmares that leave him unsettled. Seeking clarity, he travels to La Rioja to consult his trusted fortune teller, who delivers a message he dreads: it's time to stop.
The beginning of the end unfolds as Argentina experiences the worst terrorist attack in its history. Amid the chaos, Ayala and Olegario clash over a corruption investigation led by Migue. Months later, tragedy strikes again with the death of the president's son in a devastating accident. Despite his emotional turmoil, Menem presses on with his quest for reelection.
