Balestrini held a number of important posts throughout his career: he served as Vice Governor of Buenos Aires Province under Daniel Scioli from 2007 to 2010, as President of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies from 2005 to 2007, and as intendente (mayor) of La Matanza from 1999 to 2005.

[1][2] His father was a Peronist military officer who was forced into exile in 1955 following the coup of the Revolución Libertadora and the ensuing dictatorship; for this reason, Balestrini spent part of his childhood in Chile.

[2] Toward the end of the 1990s, Balestrini formed, alongside Julio Alak and Juan José Álvarez, a trio of promising young Justicialist politicians known as the "Three Musketeers".

At the 2007 provincial elections in Buenos Aires, Balestrini was Daniel Scioli's running mate in the Justicialist Party–Front for Victory gubernatorial ticket.

[10] On 7 April 2010, Balestrini suffered a debilitating stroke and was interned at the Policlínico General San Martín in La Plata.