Complex sentence: His period in office were marked by economic turbulence and public unrest in San Juan, not unlike the country as a whole; by 2001, provincial employees were not being paid, and the province was insolvent.
Split into simpler sentences: His period in office were marked by economic turbulence and public unrest in San Juan, like the country as a whole. By 2001, provincial employees were not paid and the province was insolvent.