Chamber:
	Cámara de Diputados
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	26 October 1997
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held to renew one-half (127) of the seats in the Chamber of Deputies on the normal expiry of the members’ term of office.
Background and outcome of elections:
	The main contestants in the 1997 partial mid-term elections for one-half (this time, 127) of the Chamber of Deputies seats were the ruling Justicialist Party (PJ) of President of the Republic Carlos Menem and the newly founded (in August 1997) Alliance coalition consisting of the centrist Radical Civic Union (UCR) headed by Mr. Rodolfo Terrango and the centre-left Front for a Country in Solidarity (FREPASO) led by Mr. Carlos Alvarez. During the campaign, the Alliance pointed to the social cost of the Government’s programme of economic reform (marked by sweeping privatisation and anti-inflationary measures), especially the continuing high unemployment rate and unequal distribution of wealth ; it moreover stressed an anti-corruption platform. The Peronist PJ countered by emphasising the strong economic record of the Menem administration since it came to power in 1989 and the general stability that prevailed during this period. Polling day, like the campaign, was generally peaceful. According to final results, the Alliance picked up some 20 additional seats and the PJ lost 13 and, thus, its absolute majority in the Chamber (it still controls the Senate). Noteworthy victories included that of Ms. Graciela Fernandez Meijide (FREPASO) over the wife of powerful governor Eduardo Duhalde (PJ) in Buenos Aires province - traditional Peronist territory. The overall outcome of the legislative poll was seen as having an important bearing on the presidential election of 1999.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (26 October 1997): Elections results
Number of registered electors	23,184,491
Voters	18,135,267 (78.22%)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	1,125,722
Valid votes	17,009,545

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	Votes	%
Justicialist Party (PJ)	6,168,617	36.27
Alliance for Work, Justice and Education (UCR and FREPASO)	6,168,175	36.26
Radical Civic Union (UCR)*	1,183,794	6.96
Action for the Republic	657,514	3.86
National Solidarity Front (FREPASO)*	410,831	2.41
Republican Force	246,165	1.45
Democrats of Mendoza	227,471	1.34
New Party Front	217,099	1.28
Others	1,729,879	10.17

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total	Seats 1997	Gain/Loss
Justicialist Party (PJ)	118	51	-13
Alliance for Work, Justice and Education (UCR and FREPASO)	110	46	+20
Radical Civic Union (UCR)*	-	12	-
Action for the Republic	3	3	+3
National Solidarity Front (FREPASO)*	-	3	-
Republican Force	2	2	=
Democrats of Mendoza	3	2	+1
New Party Front	2	2	+2
Others	19	6	n.a.

Comments:
	*in some constituencies, UCR and FREPASO ran separately rather than as an alliance

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	186
Women:	71