ARGENTINA: parliamentary elections Senado, 2001

ARGENTINA
Parliamentary Chamber: Senado

ELECTIONS HELD IN 2001

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for ARGENTINA <<<

Chamber:

Senado

Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):

14 October 2001

Purpose of elections:

First election of the 72 members of the Senate by direct universal suffrage. Before the Senate was elected by indirect elections at the provincial level

Background and outcome of elections:

Elections for the Senate and for one-half of the Chamber of Deputies were held on 14 October 2001. The Senate was in transition to a new system under which one-third of its members will be elected to six-year terms every two years. Previously, members were elected indirectly at the provincial level. At this election, all 72 seats in the Senate were filled by direct universal suffrage. The winners would then draw lots to decide whether they get two-, four- or six-year terms.
Turnout was 73.7%, the lowest since 1983. Altogether, with blank or invalid ballots, more than 10,2 millions electors (or 41 per cent of the registered electors) failed to choose any candidate, a reflection of growing discontent.
These elections were seen as the first national test of the two-year-old administration of President de la Rua. President Fernando de la Rua was elected in 1999 on a centre-left platform, but his multiple cabinet changes and seeming inability to deal with the recession had sent his public approval ratings plummeting to around 20 percent. The coalition he headed had fallen apart as many members of the alliance had left, disillusioned by a lack of firmness on corruption and by the government's economic orthodoxy. His partners had criticized the President for sticking by Domingo Cavallo, the controversial economy minister who had helped secure an $8 billion rescue package for Argentina from the International Monetary Fund in August 2001.
The opposition Peronists - Justicialist Party (PJ) - won a majority of seats in both Houses and will have 116 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 41 in the Senate while the ruling Alliance for Work, Justice and Education will hold 88 and 25 in the Senate.
On 10 December 2001, the new Congress held its first sitting. Mr Eduardo Camaño was elected Speaker of the House of Deputies and Mr Ramón Puerta President of the Senate.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (14 October 2001): Elections results

Number of registered electors 24 735 483

Voters 18 602 837 (75 %)

Blank or invalid ballot papers 3 921 761

Valid votes 14 681 076

Round no 1: Distribution of votes

Political Group Votes %

Justicialist Party (PJ) 2 632 278 31.30

Alliance for Work, Justice and Education (UCR and FREPASO) 1 781 989 21.20

Alternativa República de Iguales (ARI) 636 420 7.60

Others 854 662 10.20

Round no 1: Distribution of seats

Political Group Total

Justicialist Party (PJ) 41

Alliance for Work, Justice and Education (UCR and FREPASO) 25

Alternativa República de Iguales (ARI) 1

Others 5

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men: 48

Women: 24

Percent of women: 33.33

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for ARGENTINA <<<

Chamber:
	Senado
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	14 October 2001
Purpose of elections:
	First election of the 72 members of the Senate by direct universal suffrage. Before the Senate was elected by indirect elections at the provincial level
Background and outcome of elections:
	Elections for the Senate and for one-half of the Chamber of Deputies were held on 14 October 2001. The Senate was in transition to a new system under which one-third of its members will be elected to six-year terms every two years. Previously, members were elected indirectly at the provincial level. At this election, all 72 seats in the Senate were filled by direct universal suffrage. The winners would then draw lots to decide whether they get two-, four- or six-year terms. Turnout was 73.7%, the lowest since 1983. Altogether, with blank or invalid ballots, more than 10,2 millions electors (or 41 per cent of the registered electors) failed to choose any candidate, a reflection of growing discontent. These elections were seen as the first national test of the two-year-old administration of President de la Rua. President Fernando de la Rua was elected in 1999 on a centre-left platform, but his multiple cabinet changes and seeming inability to deal with the recession had sent his public approval ratings plummeting to around 20 percent. The coalition he headed had fallen apart as many members of the alliance had left, disillusioned by a lack of firmness on corruption and by the government's economic orthodoxy. His partners had criticized the President for sticking by Domingo Cavallo, the controversial economy minister who had helped secure an $8 billion rescue package for Argentina from the International Monetary Fund in August 2001. The opposition Peronists - Justicialist Party (PJ) - won a majority of seats in both Houses and will have 116 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 41 in the Senate while the ruling Alliance for Work, Justice and Education will hold 88 and 25 in the Senate. On 10 December 2001, the new Congress held its first sitting. Mr Eduardo Camaño was elected Speaker of the House of Deputies and Mr Ramón Puerta President of the Senate.

Round no 1 (14 October 2001): Elections results
Number of registered electors	24 735 483
Voters	18 602 837 (75 %)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	3 921 761
Valid votes	14 681 076

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	Votes	%
Justicialist Party (PJ)	2 632 278	31.30
Alliance for Work, Justice and Education (UCR and FREPASO)	1 781 989	21.20
Alternativa República de Iguales (ARI)	636 420	7.60
Others	854 662	10.20

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total
Justicialist Party (PJ)	41
Alliance for Work, Justice and Education (UCR and FREPASO)	25
Alternativa República de Iguales (ARI)	1
Others	5

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	48
Women:	24
Percent of women:	33.33