Juan José Mussi, who served as mayor of Berazategui, Argentina, for nearly three decades across multiple terms, has died at the age of 84. Mussi’s passing marks the end of a meaningful political career that began in the 1970s and saw him navigate Argentina’s turbulent political landscape as a key figure in the Peronist movement. He was serving his sixth term as mayor at the time of his death, a position he held most recently since 2019, following a period where his son also led the municipality.
Juan José Mussi, the longtime mayor of Berazategui, Argentina, died Monday at the age of 84, officials confirmed. His decades-long career in public service saw him lead the municipality through multiple terms, navigating the shifting political landscape of the country. Mussi’s passing marks the end of an era for the city and the Peronist movement he championed.
Mussi was serving his sixth term as mayor when he passed away, having first assumed the position on December 10, 1987. He stepped down in 1994 to serve as the Buenos Aires province’s Minister of Health under then-Governor Eduardo Duhalde.
He later returned to the mayor’s office, serving from 2003 to 2010. His son, Juan Patricio Mussi, then succeeded him, leading the city until 2019. Juan José Mussi resumed his role as mayor that same year, and was reelected in 2023, a position he held until his death.
According to a statement posted on his official X account, Mussi had been hospitalized at the Hospital de Alta Complejidad El Cruce – Néstor Kirchner, where a specialized medical team provided care.
Former Vice President Cristina Kirchner was among the first to publicly mourn his loss, sharing her condolences on X. “I have just been informed of the passing of Dr. Juan José Mussi. A great and historic mayor of the town of Berazategui, Buenos Aires province. A Peronist his entire life,” she wrote.
Kirchner continued, “He was also Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development of the Nation during our administration. Our condolences to family and friends… and especially to his son Patricio, who was also mayor of Berazategui, and for whom I have great affection.”
Buenos Aires Province Governor Axel Kicillof also expressed his sadness, stating on X: “With great sadness we say goodbye to our dear Juan José Mussi. An tireless activist, a historic reference of Peronism and above all an exemplary, supportive and committed companion to the rights of our people.”
“A hug to his family and friends and to all the neighbors of Berazategui. We are going to miss him,” Kicillof added.
Former President Alberto Fernández also shared a message, accompanied by a photograph of the two men. “With deep sorrow I learned of the death of Juan José Mussi. A great colleague, an enormous mayor and, above all, an exceptional person has left us. Berazategui loses one of its best sons and Peronism loses a loyal and consistent activist,” he lamented.
Fernández concluded, “I always admired his unwavering loyalty and, above all, that enormous human quality that made him so special. Juan José leaves an indelible legacy of work and love for his people.”
The Buenos Aires branch of the Peronist party also released a statement, expressing “deep sorrow” over Mussi’s death. They described him as a minister of health for the province and Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development during Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s presidency, “a man of Peronism.” The party extended their condolences to his family and friends, particularly his son Patricio.
Born January 9, 1941, in Plátanos, Mussi was a clinical physician who received his degree from the National University of La Plata. He entered politics in the 1970s, serving as secretary of the Berazategui Deliberative Council. In 1973, he was appointed director of the General San Martín Interzonal General Hospital in La Plata, a position he held until the 1976 coup d’état.
Following the return to democracy, Mussi re-entered political life. He was first elected mayor of Berazategui in 1987 and remained a prominent figure in the city’s Peronist movement for decades. His career expanded to the provincial level in 1994 when he was appointed Buenos Aires province’s Minister of Health.
He held that position until 2002. During Eduardo Duhalde’s interim presidency, he also served as Secretary of Political Affairs for the Ministry of the Interior, broadening his role in national governance.
In 2010, Mussi returned to the federal sphere as Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development during Cristina Kirchner’s government. He later served as a provincial deputy representing the Third Section.
After completing his term as a provincial legislator in 2017, he ran for a seat on the Berazategui Deliberative Council. Once elected, his colleagues appointed him to lead the council.
He held that position until 2019, when he took a leave of absence to focus on his campaign to regain the mayoralty. He resumed leadership of the municipality in December of that year and was reconfirmed by voters four years later – in 2023 – with a term extending to 2027.
