[2] He then enrolled at the National University of Córdoba, and became active in the Franja Morada, a nationwide student organization allied with the centrist UCR.

Juez, who had resigned under pressure in 2002 amid corruption investigations of Governor José Manuel de la Sota, was a Peronist (traditional opponents of the UCR).

[4] Giacomino resigned his seat in Congress to run for the post and was elected mayor, defeating UCR candidate Ramón Mestre, jr, and de la Sota's wife, Olga Ruitort.

[2] Mayor Giacomino inherited a municipal workforce which had doubled during the Juez tenure, absorbing 74% of the city's us$500 million annual budget.

His proposals to reduce overtime pay for these employees became the source of friction with the Municipal Workers' Union, effectively ending his alliance with Juez.