17. Argentina (1916-present)

Crisis Phase (April 2, 1916-October 12, 1922):  Legislative elections were held on April 2, 1916, and the Radical Civic Union (Unión Cívica Radical – UCR) won 44 out of 120 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The Conservative Party (CP) won 28 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  Hipólito Yrigoyen of the UCR was elected president with 47 percent of the vote on April 2, 1916, and he was inaugurated as president on October 12, 1916.  Government troops suppressed labor strikes throughout the country on February 9, 1918.  Legislative elections were held on March 3, 1918, and the UCR won 56 out of 120 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The CP won 19 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.

Striking workers fired on government policemen at the Vasena metal works near Buenos Aires on January 3, 1919, resulting in the death of one government policeman.  Government policemen clashed with striking workers at the Vasena metal works on January 7, 1919, resulting in deaths of five workers.  Government police and military personnel clashed with workers in Buenos Aires on January 8-13, 1919, resulting in the deaths of at least two government policemen and 100 workers.  Some 50,000 individuals were imprisoned for their involvement in the violence.  Legislative elections were held on March 7, 1920, and the UCR won 84 out of 158 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The Democratic Progressive Party (Partido Demócrata Progresista – PDP) won 19 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  Workers declared a general strike in Santa Cruz Province on November 1, 1920.  Striking workers clashed with government policemen near El Cerrito in Santa Cruz Province on January 2, 1921, resulting in the deaths of one worker and four government policemen.  The government declared a state of emergency in the province.  Government troops commanded by Colonel Héctor Benigno Varela violently suppressed the workers’ strike in Santa Cruz Province in 1922, resulting in the deaths of some 1,500 workers.  Legislative elections were held on April 2, 1922, and the UCR won 91 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The PDP won 14 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  Marcelo Torcuata de Alvear of the UCR was elected president with 49 percent of the vote on April 2, 1922, and he was inaugurated as president on October 12, 1922.

Post-Crisis Phase (October 13, 1922-September 5, 1930):  Legislative elections were held on March 7, 1924, and the UCR won 72 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The Socialist Party (Partido Socialista – PS) won 18 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  Some 400 indigenous individuals were massacred by government troops in Napalpí in Chaco Province on July 19, 1924.  Legislative elections were held on March 7, 1926, and the UCR won 60 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The PS won 19 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  Legislative elections were held on April 1, 1928, and the UCR won 92 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The CP won 14 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  Hipólito Yrigoyen of the UCR was elected president with 62 percent of the vote on April 1, 1928.  The government suppressed an attempted assassination of President Hipólito Yrigoyen on December 24, 1929.  Legislative elections were held on March 2, 1930, and the UCR won 98 out of 158 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The Independent Socialist Party (ISP) won 15 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  President Hipólito Yrigoyen resigned due to ill health on September 5, 1930, and Vice-President Enriquez Martinez assumed the presidency.

Crisis Phase (September 6, 1930-October 31, 1945):  President Enriquez Martinez was overthrown in a military rebellion led by General Jose Felix Uriburu of the Conservative Party (CP) on September 6, 1930, and General Uriburu took control of the provisional government on September 8, 1930. The U.S. government imposed diplomatic sanctions (diplomatic non-recognition) against the provisional government of General Uriburu on September 8, 1930. General Uriburu declared a state-of-siege on September 9, 1930. The U.S. government lifted diplomatic sanctions against the government of General Uriburu on September 18, 1930. The government suppressed a rebellion in Corrientes in July 1931.  General Agustin Justo of the anti-personalista faction of the UCR was elected president on November 8, 1931, and he was inaugurated as president on February 20, 1932.  The UCR (personalista faction) boycotted the presidential election.  Legislative elections were held on November 8, 1931, and the National Democratic Party (Partido Demócrata Nacional – PDN) won 58 out of 158 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The Socialist Party (Partido Socialista – PS) and Democratic Progressive Party (Partido Demócrata Progresista – PDP) alliance won 57 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The government suppressed a Radical rebellion in December 1932. The government declared a state-of-siege in December 1932. The government lifted the state-of-siege in May 1933.  Legislative elections were held on March 4, 1934, and the PDN won 60 out of  158 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The PS won 43 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  Legislative elections were held on March 1, 1936, and the PDN won 55 seats out of 100 in the Chamber of Deputies.  The UCR won 40 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.   The UCR and other left-wing groups formed the Popular Front (PF) on May 1, 1936.  Fascist and other right-wing groups formed the National Front (NF) on May 31, 1936. The government banned the Communist Party of Argentina (Partido Communista de Argentina – PCA) on November 10, 1936. Supporters of President Justo formed the Concordancia coalition (Conservative Party and anti-personalista faction of the UCR) in 1937.  Roberto Ortiz of the Concordancia coalition was elected president on September 5, 1937. Opposition political parties claimed election fraud in nine provinces. Roberto Ortiz was inaugurated as president on February 10, 1938. The government banned pro-Nazi organizations in Argentina on June 15, 1939.  President Ortiz temporarily resigned due to ill health on July 3, 1940, and Vice-President Ramon Castillo became acting-president. On April 25, 1941, President Castillo announced that he would rule by decree as a result of a UCR boycott of the Chamber of Deputies. The UCR ended their boycott of the Chamber of Deputies on May 6, 1941. President Castillo declared a state-of-siege on December 15, 1941. President Ortiz died on July 15, 1942, and President Castillo assumed the presidency on a permanent basis on July 16, 1942.  President Castillo was deposed in a military coup led by General Arturo Rawson and General Pedro Pablo Ramirez on June 4, 1943. General Ramirez took control of the government and dissolved the parliament on June 8, 1943. President Ramirez temporarily relinquished the presidency to General Edelmiro Farrel on February 25, 1944. The U.S. government imposed diplomatic sanctions (suspension of diplomatic relations) against the government of General Farrel on March 4, 1944.  President Ramirez formally resigned on March 10, 1944, and General Farrel assumed the presidency on March 11, 1944.  The governments of Brazil, Britain, France, and Mexico provided diplomatic assistance (diplomatic recognition) to the government of President Farrel on April 9, 1945, and the U.S. government lifted diplomatic sanctions against the government on April 9, 1945.  President Farrel lifted the state-of-siege on August 6, 1945. Four civilians were killed during riots in Buenos Aires on August 15-17, 1945.  Some 500,000 individuals demonstrated against the government in Buenos Aires on September 19, 1945.  President Farrel lifted the ban on political party activity on October 31, 1945.

Post-Crisis Phase (November 1, 1945-June 15, 1955): Three individuals were killed in political violence in Buenos Aires on February 19, 1946, and one individual was killed in political violence near Buenos Aires on February 20, 1946. Legislative elections were held on February 24, 1946, and supporters of Colonel Juan Domingo Perón (Peronistas) won 109 out of 158 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The UCR won 44 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  Colonel Juan Perón was elected president on February 24, 1946, and he was inaugurated as president on June 4, 1946.  Legislative elections were held on March 7, 1948, and the Peronistas won 109 out of 158 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The UCR won 49 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  Elections for the Constituent Assembly were held on December 5, 1948, and the Peronistas won 38 out of 55 seats.  The UCR won 16 seats in the Constituent Assembly.  The Constituent Assembly approved a new constitution, and the constitution went into effect on March 8, 1949.  The government suppressed a rebellion led by General Benjamin Menendez on September 28, 1951, resulting in the death of one government soldier.  Legislative elections were held on November 11, 1951, and the Peronist Party (PP) won 135 out of 149 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The UCR won 14 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  President Juan Perón was re-elected with 63 percent of the vote on November 11, 1951.  Eva Perón, the wife of President Juan Perón, died on July 26, 1952. Six individuals were killed in political violence in Buenos Aires on April 15, 1953.  Legislative elections were held on April 25, 1954, and the Peronist Party (PP) won 140 out of 157 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The UCR won 12 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  President Juan Perón began a campaign against the Roman Catholic Church on November 6, 1954, resulting in the arrest of 79 priests beginning on November 13, 1954. The government banned religious education in Argentine schools on May 13, 1955. The Chamber of Deputies approved legislation on May 19, 1955, which called for the election of a constituent assembly to draft an amendment to the constitution that would dis-establish Roman Catholicism as the state religion. Some 100,000 Roman Catholics demonstrated against the government in Buenos Aires on June 11-12, 1955.

Crisis Phase (June 16, 1955-June 28, 1957): The government suppressed a military rebellion led by Vice-Admiral Samuel Toranzo Calderón in Buenos Aires on June 16, 1955, resulting in the deaths of some 364 individuals. President Juan Perón declared a state-of-siege on June 16, 1955, but he lifted the state-of-siege on June 29, 1955. On September 16, 1955, President Perón declared a state-of-siege after a military rebellion broke out in Córdoba and Buenos Aires. President Perón resigned on September 19, 1955, and a military junta headed by General Jose Domingo Molina took control of the government on September 20, 1955. Major-General Eduardo Lonardi was sworn in as provisional president on September 23, 1955. Some 4,000 individuals were killed during the rebellion. Uruguay provided diplomatic assistance (diplomatic recognition) to the government of President Lonardi on September 22, 1955, and the U.S. government provided diplomatic assistance (diplomatic recognition) to the government of President Lonardi on September 25, 1955. Ecuador and Britain provided diplomatic assistance (diplomatic recognition) to the government of President Lonardi. President Lonardi was deposed in a military coup led by Major-General Pedro Eugenio Aramburu on November 13, 1955. The government suppressed a Peronista rebellion led by General Juan Jose Valle in Santa Rosa and Rosario on June 9-10, 1956. Some 2,500 individuals were arrested for their involvement in the rebellion, and 38 Peronists were executed on June 10-13, 1956. The government lifted martial law on June 13, 1956. President Aramburu lifted the state-of-siege on June 28, 1957. Some 5,000 individuals were killed during the crisis.

Post-Crisis Phase (June 29, 1957-October 11, 1958): Elections to the Constituent Assembly were held on July 28, 1957, and the Intransigent Radical Civic Union (Unión Cívica Radical Intransigente – UCRI) won 77 out of 205 seats in the Constituent Assembly.  The People’s Radical Civic Union (Unión Cívica Radical del Pueblo – UCRP) won 75 seats in the Constituent Assembly.  The Constituent Assembly convened on September 1, 1957, and voted to restore the 1853 constitution on September 24, 1957. The Constituent Assembly was dissolved on November 6, 1957.  Legislative elections were held on February 23, 1958, and the UCRI won 133 out of 187 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The UCRP won 52 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  Arturo Frondizi of the UCRI was elected president with 53 percent of the vote on February 23, 1958, and he was inaugurated as president on May 1, 1958.

Crisis Phase (October 12, 1958-September 21, 1963): The government uncovered a plot to overthrow President Frondizi on October 12, 1958, and the government imposed a state-of-siege on November 11, 1958.  Legislative elections were held on March 27, 1960, and the UCRI won 109 out of 192 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The UCRP won 74 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. Government troops suppressed a Peronista rebellion led by General Miguel Angel Iniguez in Santa Fe and Salta provinces on November 30, 1960, resulting in the deaths of ten individuals. Government troops suppressed a military rebellion led by Commander Hilario Maldonado in Buenos Aires on August 12, 1961. Legislative elections were held on March 18, 1962, and Peronistas won 43 out of 86 contested seats in the Chamber of Deputies. President Arturo Frondizi was overthrown in a military rebellion on March 28, 1962, and Jose Maria Guido, president of the Senate, was appointed as provisional president on March 29, 1962. Venezuela imposed diplomatic sanctions (diplomatic non-recognition) against the government of President Guido on March 31, 1962. President Guido nullified the result of the recent legislative elections on April 25, 1962.  President Guido dissolved the parliament and banned political parties on May 20, 1962. The government banned the Peronista and Communist Party of Argentina (Partido Communista de Argentina – PCA) on July 24, 1962. General Federico Toranzo Montero led a military rebellion against the government on August 8-12, 1962, resulting in the death of one individual. President Guido dissolved the parliament on September 6, 1962. Government troops and Nationalist/Constitutionalist rebel troops led by General Juan Carlos Ongania clashed in Buenos Aires and other cities on September 20-22, 1962, resulting in the deaths of 14 individuals. President Guido appointed General Ongania as army commander-in-chief on September 23, 1962. Government troops suppressed a naval rebellion in Buenos Aires on April 2-5, 1963, resulting in the deaths of some 30 individuals.  Legislative elections were held on July 7, 1963, and the UCRP won 73 out of 192 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The UCRI won 40 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  Arturo Illia of the UCRP was elected president with 25 percent of the vote on July 7, 1963. The government lifted the state-of-siege on September 21, 1963. Some 100 individuals were killed during the crisis.

Post-Crisis Phase (September 22, 1963-June 27, 1966): The U.S. government agreed to provide military assistance to the government on May 10, 1964.  Legislative elections were held on March 14, 1965, and the UCR won 68 out of 192 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The Popular Union (Unión Popular – UP) won 52 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.

Crisis Phase (June 28, 1966-July 28, 1970):  President Arturo Illia was overthrown in a military rebellion led by Lt. General Juan Carlos Ongania on June 28, 1966, and a three-member military junta headed by Lt. General Ongania took control of the government on June 29, 1966.  The U.S. government imposed diplomatic sanctions (diplomatic non-recognition) against the military junta on June 28, 1966.  The governments of Colombia and Venezuela imposed diplomatic sanctions (diplomatic non-recognition) against the military junta on June 29, 1966.  The government of Brazil provided diplomatic assistance (diplomatic recognition) to the military junta on July 5, 1966, and the British government provided diplomatic assistance (diplomatic recognition) to the military junta on July 7, 1966.  The U.S. government lifted diplomatic sanctions against the military junta on July 15, 1966. The Revolutionary Communist Party (Partido Communista Revolucionario – PCR) was established by dissidents of the PCA on January 6, 1968.  The government declared a state-of-siege on June 30, 1969.  President Carlos Ongania was overthrown in a military rebellion on June 8, 1970. A military junta appointed General Roberto Marcelo Levingston as president.

Conflict Phase (July 29, 1970-December 31, 1980):  The Revolutionary Workers’ Party-People’s Revolutionary Army (Partido Revolucionario de Trabajadores-Ejercito Revolucionario del Pueblo – PRT-ERP) was established in opposition to the government on July 29, 1970.  President Marcelo Levingston was overthrown by a military junta on March 23, 1971, and the military junta appointed General Alejandro Augustin Lanusse as president on March 26, 1971. The government legalized political parties on April 1, 1971. Four government policemen were killed in a bombing in Buenos Aires on January 14, 1972.  Government troops executed 16 leftist rebels, including eleven members of the PRT-ERP, at the Almirante Zar Naval Base near Trelew on August 22, 1972.  Government police and Peronistas clashed in San Miguel on December 3, 1972, resulting in the death of one individual.  Legislative elections were held on March 11, 1973, and the Justicialist Liberation Front (FREJULI) won 145 out of 243 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The Justicialist Party (Partido Justicialista – PJ) won 131 out of 243 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  Hector Campora of the PJ was elected president on March 11, 1973, and he was inaugurated as president on May 25, 1973.  The government declared a state-of-emergency in Buenos Aires and five provinces on April 30, 1973. The government lifted the state-of-emergency on May 19, 1973.  Juan Perón returned from exile in Spain on June 20, 1973, and President Hector Campora resigned on July 13, 1973.  Raul Lastiri, president of the Chamber of Deputies, was sworn in as provisional president on July 14, 1973.  Juan Perón was elected president, and Isabel Peron was elected vice-president on September 23, 1973.  President Raul Lastiri outlawed the People’s Revolutionary Army (Ejercito Revolucionario del Pueblo – ERP) on September 24, 1973.  Juan Perón was inaugurated as president on October 12, 1973. Seven individuals were killed in civil violence in Córdoba on March 2-7, 1974.  President Juan Perón died on July 1, 1974, and he was succeeded by Vice-President Isabel Perón.  President Isabel Perón declared a state-of-siege on November 6, 1974. Government troops conducted a military offensive against PRT-ERP rebels in Tucuman province from February to April 1975, resulting in the deaths of some 350 rebels.  Members of the Montonero Peronista Movement (Movimiento Peronista Montonero – MPM) ambushed and killed three government policemen near Buenos Aires on February 22, 1975.  Members of the MPM ambushed and killed three government policemen in Buenos Aires on February 26, 1975.  Members of the MPM killed three government policemen in Córdoba on June 12, 1975.  PRT-ERP rebels attacked the police headquarters in Córdoba on August 20, 1975, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals.  Members of the MPM bombed the Tucuman air base on August 28, 1975, resulting in the deaths of five military personnel.  Government troops and members of the MPM clashed near Formosa on October 5-7, 1975, resulting in the deaths of 16 members of the MPM and 14 government soldiers.  Members of the MPM ambushed and killed five government policemen in Buenos Aires on October 26, 1975.  General Orlando Jesus Capellini led an unsuccessful military rebellion against the government at Moron air force base near Buenos Aires on December 18-22, 1975.  Government troops and PRT-ERP rebels clashed in Buenos Aires on December 23-24, 1975, resulting in the deaths of 160 individuals. President Isabel Perón was deposed in a military coup on March 24, 1976, resulting in the deaths of three individuals.  Fifteen individuals were killed in political violence in Córdoba on March 26-27, 1976.  A military junta headed by Lt. General Videla took control of the government on March 29, 1976.  The military junta dissolved the parliament and declared martial law.  Members of the MPM ambushed and killed three government policemen on April 4, 1976.  Members of the MPM ambushed and killed three government policemen in Rosario Province on June 27, 1976.  Some 24 government policemen were killed in a bombing by members of the MPM in Buenos Aires on July 2, 1976. Roberto Mario Santucho, leader of the PRT-ERP, was killed by government troops near Buenos Aires on July 19, 1976.  Members of the MPM bombed a bus in Rosario on September 12, 1976, resulting in the deaths of nine government policemen and two civilians.  Lt. General Videla survived an attempted assassination in Buenos Aires on October 2, 1976.  Eleven individuals were killed in a bombing by members of the MPM in Buenos Aires on October 17, 1976.  Government security personnel massacred 22 individuals, mostly members of the Montoneros, in the town of Margarita Belén in Chaco Province on December 13, 1976.  Some 14 individuals were killed in a bombing by members of the MPM in Buenos Aires on December 15, 1976.  Some 156 government soldiers and policemen were killed in 1976.  Government troops and left-wing rebels clashed near Buenos Aires on January 1-4, 1977, resulting in the deaths of 18 rebels. Members of the MPM killed one government soldier near Buenos Aires on January 4, 1977.  Members of the MPM killed one government soldier near Buenos Aires on February 15, 1977.  Members of the MPM killed two government policemen and one civilian in Buenos Aires on May 23, 1977.  On September 6-20, 1979, the Organization of American States (OAS) Inter-American Human Rights Commission (IAHRC) investigated reports of human rights violations. Government troops suppressed the left-wing rebellion in December 1980. Some 16,500 individuals, including some 5,000 members of the MPM and 5,000 ERP rebels, were killed during the conflict.

Post-Conflict Phase (January 1, 1981-December 10, 1983):  Former President Isabel Peron was exiled in 1981. General Robert Eduardo Viola was sworn in as president by the military junta on March 29, 1981. The Radical Civic Union (Union Civica Radical – UCR), the Peronist Movement (PM), the Intransigent Party (IP), the Christian Democratic Federation (CDF), and the Movement for Integration and Development (MID) established a national front (multipartidaria) in opposition to the military junta on July 14, 1981. General Viola resigned as president on December 11, 1981, and General Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri was sworn in as president by the military junta on December 22, 1981.  The military government headed by General Galtieri enacted an amnesty law for members of the previous military juntas on April 18, 1983.  Legislative elections were held on October 30, 1983, and the UCR won 128 out of 254 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The PM won 112 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín of the UCR was elected president with 52 percent of the vote on October 30, 1983.  The U.S.-based non-governmental organization, the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), sent short-term observers to monitor the legislative and presidential elections.  Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín was inaugurated as president on December 10, 1983.  Some 15,000 individuals were killed in political violence between January 1981 and December 1983.

Post-Crisis Phase (December 11, 1983-October 24, 1985):  The National Commission on the Disappearance of Persons (Comisión Nacional sobre la Desaparición de Personas – COMADEP) was established by President Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín on December 15, 1983.  The COMADEP issued a report to President Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín on September 20, 1984.  President Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín established the National Criminal Court of Appeals on October 14, 1984.  A six-member tribunal began legal proceedings against members of the military governments between 1976 and 1983 (“Trial of the Juntas”) began on April 22, 1985.

Crisis Phase (October 25, 1985-December 5, 1990):  President Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín declared a 60-day state-of-emergency on October 25, 1985.  Legislative elections were held on November 3, 1985, and the UCR won 130 out of 257 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The PJ won 101 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  General Jorge Rafael Videla and Admiral Emilio Massera were convicted of human rights abuses and sentenced to life imprisonment, and General Roberto Viola was sentenced to 17 years in prison on December 9, 1985.  President Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín lifted the state-of-siege on December 7, 1985.  Legislative elections were held on September 6, 1987, and the UCR won 117 out of 257 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The PJ won 106 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  Legislative elections were held on May 14, 1989, and the Popular Justicialist Front (PJF) won 124 out of 254 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The PJ won 120 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The UCR won 41 of the contested seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  Carlos Saúl Menem of the PJ was elected president with 48 percent of the vote on May 14, 1989, and he was inaugurated as president on July 8, 1989. Three individuals were killed in political violence in Rosario on May 29, 1989. The government declared a 30-day state-of-siege on May 29, 1989, and the state-of-siege was lifted on June 27, 1989.  Government troops suppressed a right-wing military rebellion in Buenos Aires on December 3, 1990, resulting in the deaths of 21 individuals. The government imposed a state-of-siege on December 3, 1990, and lifted the state-of-siege on December 5, 1990. Some 100 individuals were killed during the crisis.

Post-Crisis Phase (December 6, 1990-December 18, 2001):  President Carlos Saúl Menem pardoned six senior military officers, including two former military junta leaders General Jorge Videla and General Roberto Viola, on December 29, 1990.  Legislative elections were held between August and December 1991, and the PJ won 116 out of 257 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The UCR won 84 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  Twenty-nine individuals were killed in the terrorist bombing of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires on March 17, 1992.  Legislative elections were held on October 3, 1993, and the PJ won 127 out of 254 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The UCR  won 84 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. Elections for the Constituent Assembly were held on April 10, 1994, and the PJ won 136 out of 305 seats in the assembly. The UCR won 75 seats in the Constituent Assembly.  Eight-five individuals, mostly Jewish, were killed in a terrorist bombing of a Jewish cultural center in Buenos Aires on July 18, 1994.  Legislative elections were held on May 14, 1995, and the PJ won 131 seats in the  Chamber of Deputies.  The UCR won 68 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  President Carlos Saúl Menem was re-elected with 50 percent of the vote on May 14, 1995.  Legislative elections were held on October 26, 1997, and the PJ won 119 out of 257 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The Alliance for Work, Justice, and Education (including the UCR) won 110 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  Legislative elections were held on October 24, 1999, and the UCR-led alliance won 126 out of 257 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The PJ won 99 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  Fernando de la Rúa of the UCR was elected president with 48 percent of the vote on October 24, 1999, and he was inaugurated as president in December 1999. Government police and demonstrators clashed in Corrientes on December 17, 1999, resulting in the deaths of two individuals.  Legislative elections were held on October 14, 2001, and the PJ won 121 out of 257 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The UCR-led alliance won 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.

Crisis Phase (December 19, 2001-May 25, 2003):  More than 20 individuals were killed during anti-government demonstrations in Buenos Aires, and the government declared a 30-day state-of-emergency on December 19, 2001. President Fernando de la Rúa resigned and lifted the state-of-emergency on December 20, 2001.  Ramon Puerta was appointed as acting president on December 21, 2001, and Adolfo Rodriguez Saa was sworn in as interim president on December 23, 2001. President Adolfo Rodriguez Saa resigned on December 31, 2001.  Eduardo Duhalde of the PJ was confirmed as president by Congress on January 2, 2002.  Twenty-seven individuals were killed in political violence on December 19-31, 2001.  Government police clashed with demonstrators in Buenos Aires on June 26, 2002, resulting in the deaths of two individuals.  On July 11, 2002, former military junta leader, General Leopoldo Galtieri, was arrested for his involvement in the abduction, torture, and death in 1980 of 20 leftist rebels.  Legislative elections were held on April 27, 2003, and the PJ won 129 out of 257 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The UCR won 54 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  Néstor Carlos Kirchner of the Front for Victory (Frente Para la Victoria – FPV) was elected president with 22 percent of the vote on April 27, 2003.  Néstor Carlos Kirchner was inaugurated as president on May 25, 2003.

Post-Crisis Phase (May 26, 2003-present):   Legislative elections were held on October 23, 2005, and the FPV won 50 out of 127 contested seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The UCR won ten contested seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  Judge Norberto Oyarbide revoked the pardons of former dictator General Jorge Videla and two former government ministers on September 6, 2006.  On January 12, 2007, former President Isabel Peron was arrested in Madrid by Spanish police for her involvement of the disappearance of a left-wing activist in Argentina.  On January 16, 2007, federal Judge Norberto Oyarbide issued an international arrest warrant for former President Isabel Peron.  On March 9, 2007, former military junta leader Reynaldo Bignone was arrested for his involvement in the disappearance of leftist dissidents during the late 1970s and early 1980s.  On April 25, 2007, a court in Argentina cancelled the pardons granted to General Jorge Videla and General Eduardo Massera in 1990.  Legislative elections were held on October 28, 2007, and the FPV won 78 out of 130 contested seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The Civic Coalition Confederation (CCC) won 19 contested seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of the FPV-PJ coalition was elected president with 45 percent of the vote on October 28, 2007.  Cristina Fernández de Kirchner was inaugurated as president on December 10, 2007.  Eight former military government officials, including the former head of the Argentine army, were sentenced to prison terms between 20 and 25 years on December 19, 2007.  On March 28, 2008, the Spanish government denied the extradition request by the government of Argentina for former President Isabel Peron.  On July 14, 2008, Luciano Benjamin Menendez, a former army general, was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison for killing four left-wing activists in Córdoba in 1977.  On August 28, 2008, Antonio Bussi, a former army general, was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment for the disappearance of a former senator, Guillermo Vargas Aignasse, in April 1976.  Legislative elections were held on June 28, 2009, and the PJ-led alliance won 47 out of 127 contested seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The Civic and Social Agreement (CSA) won 28 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  On August 13, 2009, Santiago Omar Riveros, the former commander of the Campo de Mayo military barracks in Buenos Aires, was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment for the torture and murder of 15-year old Floreal Avellaneda in 1976.  On April 20, 2010, former military government leader, General Reynaldo Bignone, was found guilty and sentenced to 25 years in prison for his involvement in the kidnapping, torture, and murder of 56 individuals between 1976 and 1978.  Former President Nestor Kirchner died in El Calafate on October 27, 2010.  On December 22, 2010, former military government leader, General Jorge Videla was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity. On April 14, 2011, former military government leader, General Reynaldo Bignone, was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment for the abduction and murder of left-wing activists in the town of Escobar in 1976.  On May 17, 2011, eight former army officers were found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment for killing 22 individuals, mostly members of the Montoneros, in Margarita Belén in Chaco Province in December 1976.  Legislative elections were held on October 23, 2011, and the FPV-PJ coalition won 78 out of 130 contested seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The UCR won 13 contested seats in the Chamber of Deputies. Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of the FPV-PJ coalition was re-elected as president with 54 percent of the vote on October 23, 2011.  On October 15, 2012, three former army officers were found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment for the massacre of 16 individuals near Trelew in August 1972.  Several thousand individuals demonstrated against the government in Buenos Aires on November 9, 2012.  On December 19, 2012, former government minister Jaime Smart was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity committed while he served as Interior Minister for Buenos Aires Province from 1976 to 1979.  Two individuals were killed in politically-motivated violence in Rosario on December 22, 2012.  Tens of thousands of individuals demonstrated against the government in Buenos Aires on April18, 2013.  Thirteen individuals were killed as a result of provincial police strikes and looting in Córdoba and other cities throughout Argentina on December 3-12, 2013.  Legislative elections were held on October 27, 2013, and the FVP-PJ won 40 out of 127 contested seats in the Chamber of Deputies.  The Renewal Front (RF) won 16 contested seats in the Chamber of Deputies.

[Sources:  Agence France Presse (AFP), December 10, 2013: Associated Press (AP), December 17, 1999, January 2, 2002; Bannon and Dunne, 1947, 509-537; British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), October 25, 1999, December 10, 1999, October 15, 2001, December 20, 2001, December 21, 2001, December 31, 2001, January 2, 2002, June 26, 2002, July 11, 2002, April 28, 2003, May 15, 2003, May 25, 2003, October 24, 2005, September 6, 2006, January 12, 2007, January 16, 2007, March 9, 2007, April 25, 2007, October 30, 2007, December 10, 2007, December 19, 2007, May 27, 2008, July 24, 2008, August 28, 2008, August 13, 2009, November 3, 2009, April 20, 2010, October 27, 2010, December 22, 2010, April 11, 2011, May 17, 2011, October 24, 2011, October 15, 2012, November 9, 2012, November 20, 2012, November 28, 2012, December 19, 2012, December 22, 2012, April 18, 2013, December 4, 2013, December 5, 2013, December 10, 2013; Chicago Tribune, December 30, 1990; Clodfelter, 1992, 1184, 1186-1188; Degenhardt, 1988, 13-17; Dupoy and Dupoy, 1977, 1341; Facts on File, February 17-23, 1946, September 28-October 4, 1951, November 9-15, 1951, April 17-23, 1953, May 19-25, 1955, June 16-22, 1955, June 23-29, 1955, September 15-21, 1955, November 10-16, 1955, June 6-12, 1956, June 13-19, 1956, July 25-31, 1957, February 20-26, 1958, December 1-7, 1960, August 10-16, 1961, March 22-28, 1962, March 29-April 4, 1962, April 26-May 2, 1962, May 17-23, 1962, September 20-26, 1962, March 28-April 3, 1963, April 4-10, 1963, June 23-29, 1966, July 21-27, 1966, March 25-31, 1971, April 15-21, 1971, May 6-12, 1973, May 20-26, 1973, July 15-21, 1973, September 23-29, 1973, March 29, 1975, December 27, 1975, December 31, 1975, January 10, 1976, March 27, 1976, April 3, 1976, August 7, 1976, December 31, 1976, January 15, 1977, September 14, 1979, November 1, 2001, December 20, 2001, December 31, 2001; Hispanic American Review (HAR), September 1951, November 1951, May 1955, June 1955, July 1955, August 1955, September 1955, November 1955, June 1956, June 1957, July 1957, September 1957, November 1957, December 1957, January 1958, February 1958, March 1958, August 1962, April 1963; Jessup, 1998, 37-38; Keesing’s Record of World Events, November 10-17, 1945, May 18-25, 1946, June 15-22, 1946, January 1-8, 1949, November 3-10, 1951, November 24-December 1, 1951, August 31-September 7, 1957, November 16-23, 1957, December 19-26, 1964, November 12-19, 1966, January 29-February 4, 1973, August 6-12, 1973, November 5-11, 1973, July 22-28, 1974, March 17-23, 1975, October 27-November 2, 1975, March 5, 1976, May 28, 1976, January 11, 1980, February 19, 1980, October 1986, May 1989, July 1989, December 1990, October 1993, April 1994, October 1999; Langer, 1972, 1059-1060, 1251-1253; Los Angeles Times (LAT), December 13, 2013; Munro, 1961, 171-196; New York Times (NYT), April 28, 2003, October 30, 2007; Radu and Tismaneanu, 1990, 91-107; Reuters, June 27, 2002, April 28, 2003; Robertson, 1943, 212-237; Survey of International Affairs (SIA), 1930, 553; The Economist, December 11, 2013.]

 

Selected Bibliography

Bethel, Leslie. 1993. Argentina Since Independence. London and New York: Cambridge University Press.

Falcoff, Mark and Ronald H. Dolkart, editors. 1975. Prologue to Peron: Argentina in Depression and War, 1930-1943. Berkeley, Los Angeles, and London: University of California Press.

Romero, Luis Alberto. 2002. A History of Argentina in the Twentieth Century. University Park, PA: The Pennsylvania State University Press.