2001 Argentine legislative election explained

Election Name:2001 Argentine legislative election
Country:Argentina
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:
Next Election:2003
Seats For Election:127 of 257 seats in the Chamber of Deputies
72 seats in the Senate
Turnout:75.47% (Deputies)
75.49% (Senate)
Election Date:14 October 2001
Noleader:yes
Heading1:Chamber of Deputies
Color1:
  1. 75AADB
Party1:Justicialist Party
Percentage1:38.49%
Last Election1:50
Seats1:66
Color2:
  1. E10019
Party2:Alliance for Work, Justice and Education
Percentage2:22.71%
Last Election2:62
Seats2:35
Color3:
  1. 6fb53e
Party3:Alternative for a Republic of Equals
Percentage3:9.02%
Last Election3:0
Seats3:8
Color4:orange
Party4:Social Pole
Percentage4:4.12%
Last Election4:0
Seats4:4
Color5:red
Party5:United Left
Percentage5:3.63%
Last Election5:0
Seats5:1
Color6:grey
Party6:Federalist Unity Party
Percentage6:2.08%
Last Election6:1
Seats6:2
Color7:
  1. 75AADB
Party7:Union for Buenos Aires Front
Percentage7:1.09%
Last Election7:0
Seats7:2
Color8:purple
Party8:Self-determination and Freedom
Percentage8:0.95%
Last Election8:0
Seats8:2
Color9:
  1. 005C9E
Party9:Democratic Party of Mendoza
Percentage9:0.89%
Last Election9:1
Seats9:1
Party10:Others
Percentage10:17.25%
Last Election10:16
Seats10:6
Heading11:Senate
Color11:
  1. 75AADB
Party11:Justicialist Party
Percentage11:38.95%
Last Election11:39
Seats11:42
Color12:
  1. E10019
Party12:Alliance for Work, Justice and Education
Percentage12:23.45%
Last Election12:24
Seats12:26
Color13:
  1. 0070B8
Party13:Republican Force
Percentage13:0.68%
Last Election13:1
Seats13:1
Color14:
  1. 1E90FF
Party14:Salta Renewal Party
Percentage14:0.65%
Last Election14:1
Seats14:1
Color15:
  1. 0070B8
Party15:Neuquén People's Movement
Percentage15:0.42%
Last Election15:2
Seats15:2

An Argentine legislative election took place on Sunday, 14 October 2001 to elect 127 of the 257 seats in the Argentine Chamber of Deputies, and all 72 seats in the Argentine Senate. The elections were held during the second year of the administration of President Fernando de la Rúa. Elections to the Chamber of Deputies are held using staggered elections, with only 127 of the 257 seats in that chamber being up for grabs.

In the event, the opposition Justicialist Party took control of both chambers of the legislature, severely limiting the power of the administration of De la Rúa. His government was supported by the Radical Civic Union, the Broad Front and the Front for a Country in Solidarity, who contested the election jointly under the banner of the Alliance for Work, Justice and Education.

The Argentine Senate faced its first elections since 1995, and in accordance with an agreement crafted following the 1994 reform of the Argentine Constitution, all 72 seats would be renewed, and three classes of senators elected in 2001 would serve for two, four, or six-years in their first term afterwards. Senators, save for the City of Buenos Aires, had previously been elected by their respective provincial legislatures, but would now be popularly elected.

Background

In 1999, Fernando de la Rúa had been elected President of Argentina in that year's elections. De la Rúa had inherited an economy in recession, and in the midst of an economic crisis. In the end, the 2001 legislative elections were seen as a rebuke for De la Rúa and his handling of the crisis, which was at that point in its fourth year. The Justicialist Party, which had suffered a defeat in 1999, staged a comeback in this election, benefiting from its role as the principal opposition party. Elections in Argentina are compulsory, meaning that those who fail to turn out potentially could face a fine or other punishment. Despite this, roughly a quarter (24.4%) of Argentines eligible to vote, chose to stay at home. The blank votes additionally made up a major share of all votes cast.

Results

Chamber of Deputies

PartyVotes%Seats wonTotal seats
Justicialist Party (PJ)5,499,35338.4966118
Alliance for Work, Justice and Education (Alianza)3,244,89122.713597
Alternative for a Republic of Equals (ARI)1,288,4039.0288
bgcolor=orangeSocial Pole588,4244.1244
bgcolor=redUnited Left (IU)518,3143.6311
bgcolor=orangeHumanist Party (PH)384,2482.69
bgcolor=greyFederalist Unity Party (PAUFE)296.8042.0823
Union of the Democratic Centre (UCEDE)287,9762.02
bgcolor=darkredWorkers' Party (PO) - Movement for Socialism (MAS)243,7841.71
Action for the Republic (AR)160,8321.1310
Union for Buenos Aires Front (PJ + AR)156,1041.092
bgcolor=purpleSelf-determination and Freedom (AyL)135,3610.9522
Democratic Party of Mendoza (PD)126,7690.8912
Democratic Progressive Party (PDP)109,7960.7713
bgcolor=redSocialist Workers' Party (PTS)105,8360.74
Neighborhood Action Movement104,4270.73
Republican Force (FR)103,4470.7212
Salta Renewal Party (PRS)95,0010.6612
bgcolor=darkblueChristian Democratic Party (PDC)81,0920.57
bgcolor=greyFront of Social Integration for a Change in Freedom (FISCAL)74,0020.5211
Neuquén People's Movement (MPN)60,8520.4323
People's Reconstruction Party (PPR)53,5800.37
bgcolor=lightgreyRetirees in Action53,0260.37
Corrientes Civic and Social Front44,9540.311
bgcolor=lightgreyPopular Renewal Front42,5480.30
bgcolor=yellowMovement for Dignity and Independence (MODIN)45,2180.32
Constitutional Nationalist Party (PNC)34,2750.24
bgcolor=darkblueIntegration and Development Movement (MID)31,1340.22
bgcolor=lightgreyLabor Party30,7670.22
bgcolor=lightgreyUnited People's Front24,0160.17
bgcolor=darkblueChubut Action Party (PACH)21,8910.15
bgcolor=lightgreyPopular Movement for the Reconquest20,9510.15
bgcolor=lightgreyBuenos Aires Popular Movement (MOPOBO)20,7410.15
bgcolor=lightgreyPopular Action Movement20,3120.14
bgcolor=lightgreyUnited People's Front19,5060.14
bgcolor=lightgreyDevelopment and Justice17,1930.12
bgcolor=lightgreyChange Córdoba15,7250.11
bgcolor=lightgreyFor a New Jujuy14,6760.10
bgcolor=lightgreyCivic Renewal Movement13,2920.09
bgcolor=lightgreyPopular Front12,0350.08
Río Negro Provincial Party (PPR)11,8910.08
People's Patagonian Movement (MPP)11,5890.08
bgcolor=lightgreyLiberation Front10,7880.08
bgcolor=lightgreyIndependent Democratic Movement9,6590.07
bgcolor=lightgreySanta Cruz Federal Movement6,8220.05
bgcolor=lightgreySocial Democratic Party6,7600.05
bgcolor=lightgreyMemory and Participation6,4320.05
bgcolor=lightgreyMiddle Generation Party6,3950.04
bgcolor=darkblueFueguian People's Movement (MOPOF)4,6600.03
bgcolor=lightgreyFuegian Federal Party4,4330.03
bgcolor=lightgreyUnited People3,3310.02
bgcolor=lightgreyProvincial Civic Action2,8910.02
New Leadership2,8110.02
bgcolor=lightgreyNew Front900.00
Total14,290,108100127257
align=left colspan=2Positive votes14,290,10876.02
align=left colspan=2Blank votes2,022,58710.76
align=left colspan=2Invalid votes2,486,29613.23
align=left colspan=2Total votes18,798,991100
align=left colspan=2Registered voters/turnout24,907,83875.47

Senate

PartyVotes%Seats
2001-2003
Seats
2001-2005
Seats
2001-2007
Total seats
Justicialist Party (PJ)5,668,52338.9514161242
Alliance for Work, Justice and Education (Alianza)3,412,19523.4598926
Alternative for a Republic of Equals (ARI)1,304,7358.97
bgcolor=orangeSocial Pole630,3094.33
bgcolor=redUnited Left (IU)499,9323.44
bgcolor=orangeHumanist Party (PH)376,3762.59
bgcolor=greyFederalist Unity Party (PAUFE)321.7682,21
Union of the Democratic Centre (UCEDE)306,3652.11
bgcolor=darkredWorkers' Party (PO) - Movement for Socialism (MAS)237,6701.63
Action for the Republic (AR)159,6111.10
Union for Buenos Aires Front (PJ + AR)150.2911,03
Democratic Party of Mendoza (PD)127,3430.88
bgcolor=redSocialist Workers' Party (PTS)105,7570.73
Democratic Progressive Party (PDP)104,4110.72
Republican Force (FR)99,4080.6811
Salta Renewal Party (PRS)94,4230.6511
bgcolor=purpleSelf-determination and Freedom (AyL)92,6470.64
bgcolor=greyFront of Social Integration for a Change in Freedom (FISCAL)87,3540.60
bgcolor=darkblueChristian Democratic Party (PDC)67,1490.46
Neuquén People's Movement (MPN)61,6130.4222
People's Reconstruction Party (PPR)53,1400.37
bgcolor=lightgreyRetirees in Action51,9750.36
Corrientes Civic and Social Front46,2020.32
bgcolor=yellowMovement for Dignity and Independence (MODIN)44,7810.31
bgcolor=lightgreyPopular Renewal Front43,3490.30
bgcolor=darkblueIntegration and Development Movement (MID)35,5200.24
bgcolor=lightgreyLabor Party30,6340.21
Constitutional Nationalist Party (PNC)29,2940.20
bgcolor=darkblueChubut Action Party (PACH)22,3790.15
bgcolor=lightgreyPopular Action Movement21,1460.15
bgcolor=lightgreyPopular Movement for the Reconquest21,0300.14
bgcolor=lightgreyBuenos Aires Popular Movement (MOPOBO)20,7930.14
bgcolor=lightgreyNative Action20,3330.14
bgcolor=lightgreyUnited People's Front19,6460.14
bgcolor=lightgreyDevelopment and Justice18,1830.12
bgcolor=greenSocial Progress Party17,3480.12
bgcolor=lightgreyFor a New Jujuy15,8710.11
bgcolor=lightgreyChange Córdoba15,5010.11
bgcolor=lightgreyPopular Front12,8960.09
bgcolor=lightgreyCivic Renewal Movement12,5180.09
Río Negro Provincial Party (PPR)11,7710.08
People's Patagonian Movement (MPP)11,5470.08
bgcolor=lightgreyLiberation Front10,4640.07
bgcolor=lightgreyIndependent Democratic Movement10,3430.07
bgcolor=lightgreySanta Cruz Federal Movement8,5140.06
bgcolor=lightgreyMemory and Participation6,5820.05
bgcolor=lightgreySocial Democratic Party6,4620.04
bgcolor=lightgreyFuegian Federal Party6,3300.04
bgcolor=lightgreyMiddle Generation Party6,1920.04
bgcolor=lightgreyUnited People3,2460.02
bgcolor=lightgreyProvincial Civic Action3,1820.02
New Leadership2,7640.02
bgcolor=darkblueFueguian People's Movement (MOPOF)2,7570.02
bgcolor=lightgreyNew Front930.00
Total14,550,66610024242472
align=left colspan=2Positive votes14,550,66677.38
align=left colspan=2Blank votes1,732,8619.22
align=left colspan=2Invalid votes2,519,44113.40
align=left colspan=2Total votes18,802,968100
align=left colspan=2Registered voters/turnout24,907,83875.49

References