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==Background== ==Background==


For the first time since the return of democracy (]), the ] (PJ) failed to agree on a presidential candidate, and three strong candidates emerged from this party: center-right former President ], center-left ] Governor ], and centrist ] Governor ].<ref name="Fraga21">{{cite book|title= Fin de ciKlo: ascenso, apogeo y declinación del poder kirchnerista|author=Fraga, Rosendo|year=2010|publisher=Ediciones B|pages=21-23}}</ref> None were officially supported by the party, though President ] publicly endorsed Governor Kirchner on January 15, 2003. The PJ suspended its January 24 convention, opting to allow the three contenders to run on the ] mantle. Justice had ruled that none of the candidates would be allowed to use the traditional Peronist iconography in detriment of the others.<ref name="Fraga21"/> For the first time since the return of democracy in ]), the ] (PJ) failed to agree on a single presidential candidate. Three credible Peronist candidates ran in the election: center-right former President ], center-left ] Governor ], and centrist ] Governor ].<ref name="Fraga21">{{cite book|title= Fin de ciKlo: ascenso, apogeo y declinación del poder kirchnerista|author=Fraga, Rosendo|year=2010|publisher=Ediciones B|pages=21-23}}</ref> None were officially supported by the party, though President ] publicly endorsed Governor Kirchner on January 15, 2003. The PJ suspended its January 24 convention, opting to allow the three contenders to run on the ] mantle. None of the candidates were allowed to use the traditional Peronist iconography in detriment of the others.<ref name="Fraga21"/>


For the first time since 1916, the UCR was not a major party in the election.<ref name="Fraga21"/> After the political collapse at the peak of the ] that led to the resignation of President ] at the end of 2001, popular support for the PJ's traditional opponents, the centrist ] (UCR), was at historically low levels. Two strong former members of the UCR founded parties based on their politics: Congresswoman ] founded a left-of-center party, the ], and economist ] founded a right-wing one, '']''. For the first time since 1916, the UCR did not field a presidential candidate.<ref name="Fraga21"/> After the political collapse at the peak of the ] that led to the resignation of President ] at the end of 2001, popular support for the UCR was at historically low levels. Two strong former members of the UCR founded parties based on their politics: Congresswoman ] founded a left-of-center party, the ], and economist ] founded a right-wing one, '']''.


These five strong candidates were practically tied in all the pre-election polls. Menem obtained the most votes in the first round, but not enough to be elected (about 25%), so a ] against Kirchner was required, and was scheduled for May 18. After two terms in office from 1989 to 1999, Menem's popularity remained very low. Anticipating a landslide defeat (the polls favored Kirchner by a 35 to 50% margin),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/elpais/1-19517-2003-04-30.html|title=Menem pierde el invicto y la fama|work=Página/12}}</ref> he forfeited the runoff on May 14, and Néstor Kirchner immediately became the president-elect.<ref></ref> These five strong candidates were practically tied in all the pre-election polls. Menem obtained the most votes in the first round, but far short of a first-round victory (about 25%), so a ] against Kirchner was required, and was scheduled for May 18. After two terms in office from 1989 to 1999, Menem's popularity remained very low. With polls showing Kirchner headed for a landslide victory (polls showed him leading Menem by anywhere from a 35 to a 50% margin),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/elpais/1-19517-2003-04-30.html|title=Menem pierde el invicto y la fama|work=Página/12}}</ref> Menem withdrew from the runoff on May 14, and Néstor Kirchner immediately became the president-elect.<ref></ref>


===Legislative races=== ===Legislative races===
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President ], who was brought into office when his opponent forfeited the May 2003 runoff, ended 2003 on a more secure footing than before these local and legislative elections. He benefited from allies such as the new governor of the paramount ], ], as well as the Mayor of ], ]. Argentina celebrated 20 years of continuous democratic rule on December 10, 2003, with a new government carrying generous numbers of allies in Congress and the provinces, as well as voters' high expectations.<ref name=t03/> President ], who was brought into office when his opponent forfeited the May 2003 runoff, ended 2003 on a more secure footing than before these local and legislative elections. He benefited from allies such as the new governor of the paramount ], ], as well as the Mayor of ], ]. Argentina celebrated 20 years of continuous democratic rule on December 10, 2003, with a new government carrying generous numbers of allies in Congress and the provinces, as well as voters' high expectations.<ref name=t03/>

==Governors and Mayor of Buenos Aires== ==Governors and Mayor of Buenos Aires==



Revision as of 18:47, 2 October 2013

Argentine general election, 2003

← 1999 April 27, 2003 2007 →
 
Nominee Carlos Menem Néstor Kirchner Ricardo López Murphy
Party Front for Loyalty Front for Victory Recreate for Growth
Running mate Juan Carlos Romero Daniel Scioli Ricardo Gómez Diez
Popular vote 4,740,907 4,312,517 3,173,475
Percentage 24.5%
(forfeited)
22.2% 16.4%

 
Nominee Adolfo Rodríguez Saá Elisa Carrió
Party Front of the Popular Movement ARI
Running mate Melchor Posse Gustavo Gutiérrez
Popular vote 2,735,829 2,723,574
Percentage 14.1% 14.1%

President before election

Eduardo Duhalde
Justicialist Party

Elected President

Néstor Kirchner
Front for Victory

Argentina held presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday, April 27, 2003. Turnout was 78.2% and the results were as follows:

President

Template:Argentina presidential election, 2003

Argentine Congress

Party/Electoral Alliance Lower House
Seats
% of votes Senate
Justicialist Party 129 36.3% 41
UCR 54 14.2% 16
ARI 13 8.0%
Popular Movement for Buenos Aires
(Buenos Aires Province)
9 3.9%
Commitment to Change
(City of Buenos Aires)
5 4.0%
Strength of Buenos Aires Alliance
(City of Buenos Aires)
4 1.5%
Renewal Front Alliance
(Misiones Province)
4 1.1%
Neuquén People's Movement
(Neuquén Province)
4 0.6% 2
Self-determination and Freedom 4 1.3%
New Front Alliance
(Córdoba Province)
3 2.7% 1
Republican Force
(Tucumán Province)
3 0.8% 2
Others 25 25.6% 10
Invalid votes 14.5%
Total 257 100.0% 72

Background

For the first time since the return of democracy in 1983), the Justicialist Party (PJ) failed to agree on a single presidential candidate. Three credible Peronist candidates ran in the election: center-right former President Carlos Menem, center-left Santa Cruz Province Governor Néstor Kirchner, and centrist San Luis Province Governor Adolfo Rodríguez Saá. None were officially supported by the party, though President Eduardo Duhalde publicly endorsed Governor Kirchner on January 15, 2003. The PJ suspended its January 24 convention, opting to allow the three contenders to run on the Peronist mantle. None of the candidates were allowed to use the traditional Peronist iconography in detriment of the others.

For the first time since 1916, the UCR did not field a presidential candidate. After the political collapse at the peak of the economic crisis that led to the resignation of President Fernando de la Rúa at the end of 2001, popular support for the UCR was at historically low levels. Two strong former members of the UCR founded parties based on their politics: Congresswoman Elisa Carrió founded a left-of-center party, the ARI, and economist Ricardo López Murphy founded a right-wing one, Recrear.

These five strong candidates were practically tied in all the pre-election polls. Menem obtained the most votes in the first round, but far short of a first-round victory (about 25%), so a runoff election against Kirchner was required, and was scheduled for May 18. After two terms in office from 1989 to 1999, Menem's popularity remained very low. With polls showing Kirchner headed for a landslide victory (polls showed him leading Menem by anywhere from a 35 to a 50% margin), Menem withdrew from the runoff on May 14, and Néstor Kirchner immediately became the president-elect.

Legislative races

Legislative and gubernatorial elections were held throughout 2003, with polls open in different provinces between April and November; average turnout was 70.8%.

These elections were unprecedented in their staggered scheduling; indeed, legislators and governors were chosen over 15 different dates, during 2003. They were also, however, a return to political normalcy following a chaotic and economically depressed 2002. The Justicialist Party, which was divided among three candidates in the presidential race, remained largely united in legislative and local races. They added 12 seats in the Argentine Chamber of Deputies, as well as 2 governorships, and fears of a high number of dissident tickets did not materialize. The centrist Radical Civic Union, senior partners in the ill-fated Alliance that had returned them to power in 1999, were left with their smallest representation since 1954, though they were not replaced by the center-left ARI in a significant way; the ARI added but 2 Congressmen. Voters sentiment improved over 2001 levels (when the sentiment among many was that "they should all go"), though not significantly. Turnout increased only modestly, and the use of invalid votes declined from 24% to 15% from the tense 2001 elections. Voters in the important Santa Fe Province, in particular, curbed their use of spoiled ballots from 30% to 20%.

President Néstor Kirchner, who was brought into office when his opponent forfeited the May 2003 runoff, ended 2003 on a more secure footing than before these local and legislative elections. He benefited from allies such as the new governor of the paramount Buenos Aires Province, Felipe Solá, as well as the Mayor of Buenos Aires, Aníbal Ibarra. Argentina celebrated 20 years of continuous democratic rule on December 10, 2003, with a new government carrying generous numbers of allies in Congress and the provinces, as well as voters' high expectations.

Governors and Mayor of Buenos Aires

Provincial officials in all districts except Corrientes Province, were elected, as well as the Chief of Government of the City of Buenos Aires. The Justicialist Party wrested two governorships from the UCR (Chubut and Entre Ríos Provinces), and the UCR recovered Tierra del Fuego from the Justicialists.

District Elected Governor Party % Runner-up Party %
Buenos Aires Felipe Solá Justicialist 43.3 Luis Patti Federalist Unity Party 13.3
Catamarca Eduardo Brizuela del Moral Civic Social Front (UCR) 50.8 Luis Barrionuevo Justicialist Front 43.5
Chaco Roy Nikisch UCR 53.4 Jorge Capitanich Front for Victory 40.9
Chubut Mario Das Neves Justicialist 45.6 José Lizurume UCR 41.2
City of Buenos Aires Aníbal Ibarra Great Front 53.5 Mauricio Macri Commitment to Change 46.5
Córdoba José Manuel de la Sota Justicialist 51.8 Oscar Aguad UCR 37.2
Entre Ríos Jorge Busti Justicialist 44.6 Sergio Varisco Social Front Alliance 34.4
Formosa Gildo Insfrán Justicialist 71.8 Gabriel Hernández Front for All 24.4
Jujuy Eduardo Fellner Justicialist 55.8 Gerardo Morales UCR 35.2
La Pampa Carlos Verna Justicialist 49.1 Francisco Torroba Alternative Front 25.5
La Rioja Ángel Maza Justicialist 55.4 Jorge Yoma Work and Production Front 43.4
Mendoza Julio Cobos UCR 42.9 Guillermo Amstutz Justicialist 35.7
Misiones Carlos Rovira Renewal Front 47.9 Ramón Puerta Justicialist 32.4
Neuquén Jorge Sobisch Neuquén People's Movement 56.1 Aldo Duzdevich Justicialist 19.9
Río Negro Miguel Saiz UCR 32.6 Julio Arriaga Great Front 20.4
Salta Juan Carlos Romero Justicialist 49.7 Andrés Zottos Salta Renewal Party 24.4
San Juan José Luis Gioja Justicialist 41.4 Roberto Basualdo Life and Commitment Front 30.8
San Luis Alberto Rodríguez Saá Justicialist 90.1 Marcelo Shortrede Fatherland and Family Movement 5.5
Santa Cruz Sergio Acevedo Justicialist 70.9 Anselmo Martínez Convergence for Santa Cruz 27.9
Santa Fe Jorge Obeid Justicialist 43.2 Hermes Binner Socialist Party 38.3
Santiago del Estero Mercedes Aragonés de Juárez Justicialist 68.1 José Luis Zavalía UCR 13.0
Tierra del Fuego Jorge Colazo UCR 52.8 Carlos Manfredotti Justicialist 47.2
Tucumán José Alperovich Justicialist 44.4 Esteban Jerez Union for Tucumán 25.8

1: The City of Buenos Aires is not a province but an autonomous federal territory. The head of the local Executive is referred to as "Government Chief."
2: Election held September 15, 2002.
R: Reelected.
L: Incumbent lost.

References

  1. Argentine Interior Ministry
  2. ^ Andy Tow's Electoral Atlas of Argentina
  3. ^ Fraga, Rosendo (2010). Fin de ciKlo: ascenso, apogeo y declinación del poder kirchnerista. Ediciones B. pp. 21–23.
  4. "Menem pierde el invicto y la fama". Página/12.
  5. Todo Argentina: Kirchner Template:Es icon
  6. ^ Todo Argentina: 2003 Template:Es
  7. "Gobernador electo (2003)". Atlas Electoral de Andy Tow.
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