1989 Argentine general election explained

Election Name:1989 Argentine general election
Country:Argentina
Module:
Election Name:Presidential election
Previous Election:1983 Argentine general election
Previous Year:1983
Next Election:1995 Argentine general election
Next Year:1995
Election Date:14 May 1989
Votes For Election:600 members of the Electoral College
Needed Votes:301
Embed:yes
Type:presidential
Vote Type:Popular
Ongoing:no
Registered:20,034,252
Turnout:85.31%
Image1:Foto de campaña Menem 1989.png
Nominee1:Carlos Menem
Party1:PJ
Alliance1:FREJUPO
Color1:75AADB
Running Mate1:Eduardo Duhalde
States Carried1:20
Electoral Vote1:312
Popular Vote1:7,957,518
Percentage1:47.51%
Nominee2:Eduardo Angeloz
Party2:UCR
Alliance2:UCR + CFI
Color2:C90016
Running Mate2:Juan Manuel Casella/
María C. Guzmán
States Carried2:3 + CABA
Electoral Vote2:234
Popular Vote2:6,213,217
Percentage2:37.10%
Image3:Álvaro Alsogaray 1989.png
Nominee3:Álvaro Alsogaray
Party3:UCeDe
Color3:6495ED
Alliance3:Center Alliance
Running Mate3:Alberto Natale
States Carried3:0
Electoral Vote3:33
Popular Vote3:1,200,172
Percentage3:7.17%
President
Before Election:Raúl Alfonsín
After Election:Carlos Menem
Before Party:UCR
After Party:PJ
Module:
Embed:yes
Election Name:Legislative election
Previous Election:1987
Next Election:1991
Seats For Election:127 of 254 seats in the Chamber of Deputies
Election Date:14 May 1989
Turnout:85.31%
Noleader:yes
Heading1:Chamber of Deputies
Color1:
  1. 318CE7
Party1:Justicialist Front of Popular Unity
Percentage1:44.82%
Last Election1:61
Seats1:66
Color2:
  1. E10019
Party2:Radical Civic Union
Percentage2:29.23%
Last Election2:51
Seats2:42
Color3:
  1. 6495ED
Party3:Center Alliance
Percentage3:10.79%
Last Election3:8
Seats3:10
Color4:green
Party4:Independent Federalist Confederation
Percentage4:3.39%
Last Election4:2
Seats4:3
Color5:red
Party5:United Left
Percentage5:3.49%
Last Election5:0
Seats5:1
Color6:
  1. FF9900
Party6:Socialist Unity
Percentage6:2.71%
Last Election6:1
Seats6:0
Party7:Others
Percentage7:5.67%
Last Election7:4
Seats7:5
Results Sec:Results
Map:Mapa de las elecciones legislativas de Argentina de 1989.png
Map Upright:1

The Argentine general election of 1989 was held on 14 May 1989. Voters chose both the President and their legislators and with a turnout of 85.3%, Carlos Menem won the presidency, and the Peronist Justicialist Party won the control of both houses of Congress. This is the last presidential election the president was elected by the electoral college.

Background

Inheriting a difficult legacy from his military predecessors, President Raúl Alfonsín's tenure had been practically defined by the foreign debt Argentina's last dictatorship left behind. Signs of unraveling in Alfonsín's 1985 Austral Plan for economic stabilization cost his centrist Radical Civic Union (UCR) its majorities in the Chamber of Deputies (lower house of Congress) and among the nation's 22 governorships in the September 1987 mid-term elections. Facing a restive armed forces opposed to trials against past human rights abuses and mounting inflation, the president brought elections forward five months, now scheduled for May 14, 1989. Both major parties held national conventions in May 1988. The UCR nominated Córdoba Governor Eduardo Angeloz, a safe, centrist choice and the most prominent UCR figure not closely tied to the unpopular President Alfonsín. In an upset, however, Carlos Menem, governor of the remote and thinly populated La Rioja Province, wrested the Justicialist Party nomination from the odds-on candidate, Buenos Aires Province Governor Antonio Cafiero, a policy maker close to the Justicialists' founder, the late Juan Perón. Cafiero's defeat resulted largely from CGT trade union opposition to his Peronist Renewal faction; Alfonsín's top political adviser, Interior Minister Enrique Nosiglia, in turn saw Menem's flamboyance as an opportunity for the struggling UCR.

The Justicialists (Peronists) took a sizable lead in polling early on, however, even as nearly half the voters remained undecided. Hoping to translate this into a UCR victory over the outspoken and eccentric Menem, President Alfonsín enacted an August 1988 "Springtime Plan" in a bid for lower inflation (then running at 27% monthly). The plan, criticized as a rehashed "Austral Plan" by the CGT, called for budget cuts and renewed wage freezes - policies they blamed for sliding living standards. Initially successful, a record drought late in the year buffeted critical export earnings and led to rolling blackouts, dissipating any gains Angeloz might have made from the "relief" of 6% monthly inflation.

A perennial third-party candidate, conservative economist Álvaro Alsogaray, made gains following the January 1989 assault by Trotskyite militants on the La Tablada Barracks, west of Buenos Aires. Twice minister of the economy and remembered for his belief that the economy must go through "winter," the unpopular Alsogaray ran on a free market platform, calling for mass privatizations and deep cuts in social spending (amid 30% poverty). Angeloz took the controversial decision of including social spending cuts in the UCR platform, as well, earning the right-wing Federal Party's endorsement; but alienating many others (particularly pensioners, among whom Alfonsín had won decisively in 1983). The largely civil campaign became increasingly a debate between the Justicialist nominee and the president, himself; Angeloz, the UCR nominee, remained "presidential" during the frequent exchanges of innuendo between Alfonsín and Menem.

Following a sharp drop in Central Bank reserves, the austral fell around 29% to the U.S. dollar in heavy trading on "black Tuesday," February 7. The sudden drop in the austral's value threatened the nation's tenuous financial stability and, later that month, the World Bank recalled a large tranche of a loan package agreed on in 1988, sending the austral into a tailspin: trading at 17 to the dollar in January, the dollar quoted at over 100 australes by election day, May 14. Inflation, which had been held to the 5-10% monthly range as late as February, rose to 78.5% in May, shattering records and leading to a landslide victory for the Peronists. Polling revealed that economic anxieties were paramount among two-thirds of voters and Menem won in 19 of 22 provinces, while losing in the traditionally anti-Peronist Federal District (Buenos Aires).

The nation's finances did not stabilize after the election, as hoped. The austral halved to the dollar next week, alone, and on May 29, riots broke out in the poorer outskirts of a number of cities. Having declared his intention to stay on until inaugural day, December 10, these events and spiraling financial chaos led Alfonsín to transfer power to President-elect Menem five months early, on July 8. When Menem accepted the presidential sash from Alfonsín, it marked the first time since 1916 that an incumbent government peacefully transferred power to the opposition.[1]

Candidates for presidency

Results

President

Presidential
candidate		Vice Presidential
candidate		PartyPopular voteElectoral vote
Votes%Votes%
align=left rowspan=5Carlos Menemalign=left rowspan=5Eduardo Duhaldebgcolor=#318CE7 rowspan=5Total Menem - Duhalde7,957,51847.5131252.00
Justicialist Front of Popular Unity (FREJUPO)7,841,02846.8130550.83
Renewal Current113,1630.6871.17
Labor and People's Party (PTP)2,7700.02
Integration and Development Movement (MID)5570.00
align=left rowspan=4Eduardo Angelozalign=left rowspan=4Juan Manuel Casellabgcolor=#E10019 rowspan=4Total Angeloz - Casella5,434,04932.4421335.50
Radical Civic Union (UCR)5,162,57430.8219833.00
UCR - Independent Federalist Confederation220,5051.3291.50
UCR - Mobilization - Catamarca Popular Movement50,9700.3061.00
align=left rowspan=5Álvaro Alsogarayalign=left rowspan=5Alberto Natalebgcolor=#6495ED rowspan=5Total Alsogaray - Natale1,200,1727.17336.50
Center Alliance1,042,9846.23284.67
Autonomist - Liberal - PDP - Popular Liberation Movement106,7740.6450.83
Union of the Democratic Centre (UCeDe)49,7670.30
Democratic Progressive Party (PDP)6470.00
align=left rowspan=4Eduardo Angelozalign=left rowspan=4María Cristina Guzmánbgcolor=#008000 rowspan=4Total Angeloz - Guzmán779,1684.66213.50
Independent Federalist Confederation (CFI)675,1014.03213.50
Independent Federalist Confederation - Federal Party93,0130.56
Federal Party (PF)11,0540.07
Néstor VicenteLuis ZamoraUnited Left (IU)409,2502.4410.17
José Corzo GómezFederico HoussayRetirees Target Party (PBJ)315,6001.8871.17
align=left rowspan=5Guillermo Estévez Boeroalign=left rowspan=5Alfredo Bravobgcolor=#FF9900 rowspan=5Total Estévez Boero - Bravo240,1321.43
Socialist Unity (US)218,9501.31
Popular Socialist Party (PSP)15,8360.09
Socialist Party (PS)3,6000.02
Democratic Socialist Party (PSD)1,7460.01
Antonio Domingo BussiAntonio ÁlvarezRepublican Force (FR)185,0361.1071.17
Jorge AltamiraGregorio FloresWorkers' Party (PO)45,7630.27
Luis Alberto AmmannLía Méndezbgcolor=orangeHumanist - Green Front42,3160.25
No candidatesNeuquén People's Movement (MPN)35,4660.2140.67
Blockist Alliance27,0040.1610.17
Chaco Action (ACHA)19,8310.1210.17
bgcolor=SkyBlueRenewal Crusade (CR)11,2360.07
align=left rowspan=5Ángel Busteloalign=left rowspan=5Eduardo Hernándezbgcolor=#FF00FF rowspan=5Total Bustelo - Hernández10,1570.06
Popular Action4,7730.03
Liberation Socialist Workers' Party (PSOL)2,7150.02
Anti-Imperialist Popular Democratic Movement (MODEPA)1,3450.01
Popular Accord1,3240.01
No candidatesbgcolor=yellowRenewal Unit Movement (MUR)7,6610.05
bgcolor=lightgreyBlue, Loyalty, Restoration7,2870.04
bgcolor=lightgreyIndependence Party4,0830.02
bgcolor=lightgreyDemocratic Party of Jujuy2,4870.01
bgcolor=lightgreyRetirees Party2,3400.01
Liberal Democratic Party - Provincial Popular Movement2,3270.01
Mario Hugo GellerElisa Delboybgcolor=redLiberation Party1,8510.01
No candidatesbgcolor=lightgreyRenewal Front1,2810.01
bgcolor=lightgreyTradition and Coherence1,1810.01
bgcolor=lightgreySocial Justice1,1470.01
bgcolor=lightgreyAutonomist Union Front9730.01
bgcolor=lightgreyProvincial Union9660.01
bgcolor=lightgreyProvincial Action8380.01
Provincial Defense - White Flag6510.00
bgcolor=darkblueFueguino People's Movement (MOPOF)4720.00
bgcolor=lightgreyNationalist Movement2450.00
bgcolor=lightgreyPopulist Unification2430.00
Authentic Socialist Party (PSA)2160.00
bgcolor=lightgreyAuthentic Formosa Party1810.00
Total16,749,128100
Positive votes16,749,12898.00
Blank votes222,0481.30
Invalid votes116,0490.68
Tally sheet differences4,3950.02
Total votes17,091,620100
Registered voters/turnout20,034,25285.31
Sources:[2] [3]

Chamber of Deputies

PartyVotes%Seats wonTotal seats
Justicialist Front of Popular Unity (FREJUPO)7,460,48844.8266127
Radical Civic Union (UCR)4,865,83529.234293
Center Alliance1,796,27110.791018
bgcolor=greenIndependent Federalist Confederation (CFI)565,0803.3935
bgcolor=redUnited Left (IU)580,9433.4911
Socialist Unity (US)451,1772.71—1
bgcolor=greyRetirees Target Party (PBJ)301,1011.8111
Republican Force (FR)213,9571.2922
bgcolor=skyblueRenewal Crusade (CR)87,2730.5211
bgcolor=darkredWorkers' Party (PO)53,6710.32——
bgcolor=orangeHumanist - Green Front49,4910.30——
Neuquén People's Movement (MPN)49,0700.2912
bgcolor=darkblueChaco Action (ACHA)45,2980.27——
Blockist Alliance39,1710.24—1
Río Negro Provincial Party (PPR)22,3310.13—1
bgcolor=yellowRenewal Unit Movement (MUR)9,0270.05——
bgcolor=lightgreyBlue, Loyalty, Restoration7,6380.05——
Liberal Democratic Party - Provincial Popular Movement7,3590.04——
bgcolor=lightgreySocial Justice5,8780.04——
bgcolor=lightgreyRenewal Front4,7700.03——
bgcolor=lightgreyIndependence Party4,7490.03——
Popular Accord9,5490.06——
bgcolor=lightgreyDemocratic Party of Jujuy2,5440.02——
bgcolor=darkblueFueguino People's Movement (MOPOF)2,3090.01——
bgcolor=darkredLiberation Party (PL)1,9440.01——
bgcolor=darkblueChristian Democratic Party (PDC)1,8310.01——
Authentic Socialist Party (PSA)1,6660.01——
bgcolor=lightgreyTradition and Coherence1,4260.01——
bgcolor=lightgreyAutonomist Union Front1,1490.01——
bgcolor=lightgreyProvincial Union1,0020.01——
bgcolor=greyProvincial Defense - White Flag (DP-BB)8160.00—1
bgcolor=lightgreyNationalist Movement4180.00——
bgcolor=lightgreyAuthentic Formosa Party2460.00——
bgcolor=lightgreyEmancipatory Front380.00——
Total16,645,516100127254
align=left colspan=2Positive votes16,645,51697.39
align=left colspan=2Blank votes307,5781.80
align=left colspan=2Invalid votes99,4820.58
align=left colspan=2Tally sheet differences39,5440.23
align=left colspan=2Total votes17,092,120100
align=left colspan=2Registered voters/turnout20,034,25285.31
Sources:[4]

Results by province

ProvinceFREJUPOUCRCenter AllianceCFIOthers
Votes%SeatsVotes%SeatsVotes%SeatsVotes%SeatsVotes%Seats
scope=rowBuenos Airesbgcolor=lightblue3,042,080bgcolor=lightblue48.37bgcolor=lightblue align=center191,655,59126.3210630,16310.024190,4453.03—770,82812.252
scope=rowBuenos Aires Citybgcolor=lightblue641,767bgcolor=lightblue31.51bgcolor=lightblue align=center5580,19728.494449,82222.093146,5407.191218,39210.73—
scope=rowCatamarcabgcolor=lightblue68,098bgcolor=lightblue54.23bgcolor=lightblue align=center251,28540.8411,2571.00————4,9243.92—
scope=rowChacobgcolor=lightblue190,605bgcolor=lightblue49.17bgcolor=lightblue align=center2133,98634.5626,7131.73—1,6510.43—54,68514.10—
scope=rowChubutbgcolor=lightblue54,583bgcolor=lightblue38.48bgcolor=lightblue align=center139,81528.0719,6816.82—25,51617.99—12,2578.64—
scope=rowCórdoba664,85843.374bgcolor=pink669,338bgcolor=pink43.67bgcolor=pink align=center5120,7597.88————77,9055.08—
scope=rowCorrientes120,80732.58189,79824.221bgcolor=LightSteelBlue151,613bgcolor=LightSteelBlue40.89bgcolor=LightSteelBlue align=center13,3710.91—5,1841.40—
scope=rowEntre Ríosbgcolor=lightblue283,517bgcolor=lightblue50.49bgcolor=lightblue align=center3208,63437.15246,8648.34————22,5674.02—
scope=rowFormosabgcolor=lightblue93,949bgcolor=lightblue58.46bgcolor=lightblue align=center163,15539.3012,0001.24————1,5890.99—
scope=rowJujuybgcolor=lightblue84,266bgcolor=lightblue41.75bgcolor=lightblue align=center231,68715.70—2,7341.35—41,72420.67141,40720.52—
scope=rowLa Pampabgcolor=lightblue73,413bgcolor=lightblue51.11bgcolor=lightblue align=center253,14437.0017,4885.21—2,7991.95—6,8024.73—
scope=rowLa Riojabgcolor=lightblue69,062bgcolor=lightblue67.14bgcolor=lightblue align=center229,40628.59—1,3151.28—160.02—3,0622.97—
scope=rowMendozabgcolor=lightblue291,673bgcolor=lightblue42.04bgcolor=lightblue align=center2203,39229.312141,23720.3613,4940.50—54,0487.79—
scope=rowMisionesbgcolor=lightblue162,361bgcolor=lightblue52.21bgcolor=lightblue align=center2115,40137.11120,0806.46—7,1582.30—5,9651.92—
scope=rowNeuquénbgcolor=lightblue54,347bgcolor=lightblue36.47bgcolor=lightblue align=center135,60023.8914,8153.23————54,27636.421
scope=rowRío Negrobgcolor=lightblue85,129bgcolor=lightblue42.95bgcolor=lightblue align=center171,96836.3119,7994.94————31,32215.80—
scope=rowSaltabgcolor=lightblue154,116bgcolor=lightblue42.66bgcolor=lightblue align=center191,22525.2517,6472.12—88,29424.44120,0055.54—
scope=rowSan Juan64,74024.47148,17418.21118,7497.09————bgcolor=Aquamarine132,857bgcolor=Aquamarine50.23bgcolor=Aquamarine align=center1
scope=rowSan Luisbgcolor=lightblue66,337bgcolor=lightblue48.34bgcolor=lightblue align=center252,56438.3015,2013.79————13,1299.57—
scope=rowSanta Cruzbgcolor=lightblue32,933bgcolor=lightblue52.94bgcolor=lightblue align=center223,96438.5213,1024.99————2,2073.55—
scope=rowSanta Febgcolor=lightblue740,538bgcolor=lightblue48.01bgcolor=lightblue align=center5438,26828.413144,3939.36114,4940.94—204,83413.28—
scope=rowSantiago del Esterobgcolor=lightblue195,471bgcolor=lightblue65.49bgcolor=lightblue align=center287,92029.4612,3940.80—3,2191.08—9,4693.17—
scope=rowTierra del Fuegobgcolor=lightblue10,989bgcolor=lightblue39.51bgcolor=lightblue align=center18,44430.3612,0237.27—3181.14—6,03921.72—
scope=rowTucumánbgcolor=lightblue214,849bgcolor=lightblue39.47bgcolor=lightblue align=center282,87915.23—6,4221.18—36,0416.62—204,08937.502
Total7,460,48844.82664,865,83529.23421,796,27110.7910565,0803.3931,957,84211.776

Notes and References

  1. http://www.todo-argentina.net/historia/democracia/alfonsin/index.html Todo Argentina
  2. Web site: Recorriendo las Elecciones de 1983 a 2013 - Presidenciales. Dirección Nacional Electoral. 2017-09-25. 2017-09-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20170926041153/https://recorriendo.elecciones.gob.ar/presidente1989.html#/4/1. dead.
  3. Web site: Elecciones Nacionales ESCRUTINIO DEFINITIVO 1989 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180330143640/http://www.mininterior.gov.ar/asuntos_politicos_y_alectorales/dine/infogral/RESULTADOS%20HISTORICOS/1989.pdf . 30 March 2018 . Ministry of the Interior .
  4. Web site: Recorriendo las Elecciones de 1983 a 2013 - Diputados Nacionales . Dirección Nacional Electoral . 2020-12-16 . 2019-09-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190917142526/https://recorriendo.elecciones.gob.ar/diputados1989.html#/ . dead .

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