Argentina’s National Autonomist Party (PAN) and Electoral Reform
Argentina’s National Autonomist Party (PAN)
Roca became president of the country, supported by a league formed by rulers of different provinces, which formed the National Autonomist Party (PAN). Within the PAN, all decisions were made by the president, governors, senators, and some politicians; they formed the so-called elite. This system allowed the PAN oligarchic control of the elections, remain in power, and prevent access to the government for his political opponents.
The presidents, governors, and senators were appointed by elections, but these were marred by fraud. The vote was secret and compulsory. There were no voter rolls, and elections used to be acts of violence that prevented voting in opposition, and sometimes the vote count was wrong. It was not uncommon to pay for votes.
The Economic Crisis of 1890 and the Civic Union
In 1890, there was a strong economic crisis in the country, which was blamed on the government. Alem and Miter, opponents, organized the Civic Union and attempted to seize power through a revolution. While the situation was defeated, President Celman was very weakened and had to resign, staying as vice president, Pellegrini. The PAN remained in power for 20 more years, but voices arose that required the purification of the electoral system.
The Radical Civic Union
A section of the Civic Union, the Radical Civic Union, organized in 1891, commanded by Alem and Miter, fueled the UCR. The UCR permanently organized the first game all over the country and elected democratically. His goal was the fulfillment of the constitution and the purification of the vote.
The Socialist Party
In 1896, Juan B. Just founded the Socialist Party, which represented workers and demanded from political life conditions and legislation to improve life and work.
Roca became president of the country, supported by a league formed by rulers of different provinces, which formed the National Autonomist Party (PAN). Within the PAN, all decisions were made by the president, governors, senators, and some politicians; they formed the so-called elite. This system allowed the PAN oligarchic control of the elections, remain in power, and prevent access to the government for his political opponents.
The presidents, governors, and senators were appointed by elections, but these were marred by fraud. The vote was secret and compulsory. There were no voter rolls, and elections used to be acts of violence that prevented voting in opposition, and sometimes the vote count was wrong. It was not uncommon to pay for votes.
The Economic Crisis of 1890 and the Civic Union
In 1890, there was a strong economic crisis in the country, which was blamed on the government. Alem and Miter, opponents, organized the Civic Union and attempted to seize power through a revolution. While the situation was defeated, President Celman was very weakened and had to resign, staying as vice president, Pellegrini. The PAN remained in power for 20 more years, but voices arose that required the purification of the electoral system.
The Radical Civic Union
A section of the Civic Union, the Radical Civic Union, organized in 1891, commanded by Alem and Miter, fueled the UCR. The UCR permanently organized the first game all over the country and elected democratically. His goal was the fulfillment of the constitution and the purification of the vote.
The Socialist Party
In 1896, Juan B. Just founded the Socialist Party, which represented workers and demanded from political life conditions and legislation to improve life and work.
In 1905, the UCR organized a new constitution, this also failed, but the nagging feeling remained that he could not rule quietly, but were able to integrate the party into political life.
A section of the ruling elite believed that he could not maintain power by fraud. Neither wanted to address social conflicts. Therefore, they proposed electoral reform as a means to decompress the political and social threats, convinced that the same would win.
The Sáenz Peña Law
In the government of Roque Saenz Pena, in 1912, a law was enacted that established universal suffrage, secret and compulsory.
However, when the Saenz Pena law was sanctioned for the first time in a presidential election (1916), the winner was the radical leader Hipolito Yrigoyen.